At a time when she was secretly feeling very gloomy, when she was asked why she was so downcast by someone she was close to, who perhaps guessed it was due to love—she thought this in her heart.
もろともにいつかとくべきあふことのかたむすびなるよはのしたひも
| morotomo ni ituka tokubeki aFu koto no katamusubi naru yoFa no sitaFimo | Together When might we undo the mystery Of our meeting, and My half-knotted Underbelt at midnight? |
Sagami
Fields
Left
いつしかもゆきてはやみむあきのののはなのしたひもとけはてぬらん
| itsu shika mo yukite wa yamimu aki no no no hana no shitahimo tokehatenuran | Swiftly Shall I halt my travels In an autumn meadow; A blossom’s underbelt Seems completely undone. |
Korenari
5
Right (Win)
かりにとやいもはまつらんあきのののはなみるほどはいへぢわすれぬ
| kari ni to ya imo wa matsuran aki no no no hana miru hodo wa ieji wasurenu | Is it but briefly that My sweetheart should wait? In an autumn meadow While gazing at the flowers The way home I have quite forgot! |
Nagayoshi
6
[One of] two poems sent by Ōtomo sukune Yakamochi to the Elder Maiden of the House of Sakanoue (a love poem to say that though they had been parted for many years, he hoped they would meet again).
忘れ草我が下紐に付けたれど醜の醜草言にしありけり
| wasuregusa wa ga sitapimo ni tuketaredo siko no sikokusa koto ni shi arikeri |
A forgetful day-lily To my under-belt Is bound, yet This annoying weed Is so in name alone! |
Ōtomo no Yakamochi
大伴家持
Left.
逢ひ見じと思かたむる中なれやかく解けがたき下紐の関
| aimiji to omoikatamuru naka nare ya kaku tokegataki shimohimo no seki |
Never to meet Has she hardened her heart – Is that to be our bond? As hard to undo as The barrier at Shitahimo! |
Lord Suetsune
1005
Right (Win).
恋しともかくは人にも知られなんと思ふ心や文字の関守
| koishitomo kaku wa hito ni mi shirarenan to omou kokoro ya moji no sekimori |
The letters for love, should I write, would she my feelings Then understand, I Wonder? Does her heart have A barrier warden at Moji? |
The Supernumerary Master of the Empress’ Household Office
1006
The Right state: ‘hardened her heart’ (omoikatamuru) is grating on the ear. The Left state: the Right’s poem has no faults to indicate.
In judgement: regardless of whether the Left’s poem sounds poor or not, having both ‘hardened’ (katamuru) and ‘hard’ (kataki) is a fault. So, ‘a barrier warden at Moji’ (moji no sekimori) wins.
Left (Tie).
戀しとは便りにつけていひやりつ年は返りぬ人は歸らず
| koishi to wa tayori ni tsukete iiyaritsu toshi wa kaerinu hito wa kaerazu |
I love you, I put in a letter, and Sent it off; The years have gone by, but He has not returned. |
A Servant Girl
875
Right.
遥かなり幾草枕結びてかその下紐の解けんとすらん
| harukanari iku kusamakura musubite ka sono shitahimo no token to sururan |
A great distance – How many times pillowed on the grass? Tied tight My under-belt – I wonder when I will undo it? |
Nobusada
876
The Right state: the Left’s poem seems comic. The Left state: the initial line of the Right’s poems does not seem to have much to say.
In judgement: I wonder if it really is comic? It’s just a poem in one particular style. The conception of the poem ‘I do not await / The new year, yet it is here; / The Winter plants’ is especially charming. As for the Right, the Gentlemen have stated that the first line ‘has nothing much to say’, but I feel it is appropriately placed. Furthermore, I wonder what to think about the final ‘my under-belt’ (sono shitahimo), but, then again, the configuration of ‘How many times pillowed on the grass’ (iku kusa makura) is evocative. The poems are comparable, and again, they tie. Alas, my judgement here suggests I know nothing of poetry. It is most difficult when one realises how times have changed. How sad it is…
When Lord Tachibana no Tamenaka left to become Governor of Michinoku, this was presented from pantry of the Grand Empress Dowager, without any mention of who had sent it.
東路のはるけき道を行かへりいつかとくべき下紐の関
| adumadi no Farukeki miti wo yukikaFeri ituka tokubeki sitaFimo no seki |
On Eastern paths So distant Will you go, and then return When, indeed, will you undo The barrier of Shitahimo – my under-belt again? |
Anonymous