Round Eight
Left (Tie)
うき世をば又なににかはなぐさめん花にさきだついのちともがな
| ukiyo oba mata nani ni ka wa nagusamen hana ni sakidatsu inochi to mogana | In this cruel world Is there yet anything else To console me? Before the blossoms’ departure I would my life do the same… |
Court Lady Taifu
15
Right
桜さく春の山風みねこせば雪ふりつもる谷のほそみち
| sakura saku haru no yamakaze mine koseba yuki furitsumoru tani no hosomichi | When in cherry-blooming Spring, the mountain breezes Cross the peaks Snow falls and piles high Upon the narrow valley paths. |
Moromitsu
16
Both poems are smooth, and on that basis, I would say that the Right is superior, but it has an archaic element, while the Left lacks anything unusual about it, so this is a tie of quality.
Round Fourteen
Left (Win)
ちりちらず花より外の色ぞなきかさなる山の嶺の春風
| chiri chirazu hana yori hoka no iro zo naki kasanaru yama no mine no harukaze | Scattered, or not, Other than the blossoms’ Hues are there none Layered upon the mountain Peaks by the breeze in springtime.[1] |
Shō
27
Right
かづらきやたかまの山はうづもれて空に棚引く春のしら雲
| kazuragi ya takama no yama wa uzumorete sora ni tanabiku haru no shirakumo | In Kazuragi Takama Mountain Is buried by Trailing across the skies Clouds of white in springtime. |
Nagatsuna
28
The Left’s poem appears fine. The Right’s poem, having ‘Takama Mountain is buried’ is both pretentious and does not link to anything. The Left must win.
[1] An allusive variation on: On a folding screen for the Kamo Virgin, for the place showing people going along a mountain path. ちりちらずきかまほしきをふるさとの花見て帰る人もあはなん chiri chirazu / kikamahoshiki o / furusato no / hana mitekaeru / hito mo awanan ‘Are they scattered, or not, is / What I would ask, but / The ancient estate’s / Blossom having seen and returned— / Those folk I would have you meet.’ Ise (SIS I: 49)
Round Ten
Left (Win)
数ならぬ深山がくれを尋ねてぞ心の末の花も見るべき
| kazu naranu miyamagakure o tazunete zo kokoro no sue no hana mo mirubeki | Not for many, but Hidden deep within the mountains, I go seeking for My heart’s final desire: Catching sight of a blossom. |
The Former Minister of the Centre
19
Right
まがひこし雲をばよそに吹きなして峰の桜ににほふ春風
| magaikoshi kumo o ba yoso ni fukinashite mine no sakura ni niou harukaze | I had mistaken The clouds far away A’blowing, for Cherries on the peaks Scenting the breeze of spring. |
Kozaishō
20
Both Left and Right sound elegant, yet still the hue of ‘my heart’s final desire: blossom’ is something I can visualise—thus, it wins.
