tachikawaru haru o shire tomo misegao ni toshi o hedatsuru kasumi narikeri
‘The turn to Spring I would you know!’ Reveals, Standing at the year’s edge, The haze.
21
Right (Win)
岩まとぢし氷もいまはとけ初めて苔の下水道もとむなり
iwama tojishi kōri mo ima wa tokehajimete koke no shitamizu michi motomu nari
Cracks between the crags sealed By ice, now Beginning to melt, and The water ‘neath the moss Seeks to find its way.
22
The poem of the Left appears to have suitable configuration and diction, but even though the expression ‘reveals’ is something which one and all, and even I, compose with, I still feel that it is a word which is better avoided in a poetry match. Victory should be awarded according to a poem’s style. The poem of the Right has charming conception and diction. I should say it wins.
iwa tataku tani no shitamizu oto wakete musubanu sode zo madaki suzushiki
Dripping on the rocks is The water ‘neath the valley— At the sound I feel that, Though they cannot draw it up, my sleeves Are swiftly cooled.[i]
7
[i] See, for example: Composed when he presented a hundred poem sequence during the reign of former Emperor Horikawa. みむろ山たににや春のたちぬらむ雪のした水いはたたくなり mimuro no yama / tani ni ya haru no / tachinuramu / yuki no shitamizu / iwa tataku nari ‘Upon Mount Mimuro, / In the valleys, I wonder, has spring / Arisen? / For waters ‘neath the snow / Are dripping on the rocks…’ Middle Counsellor Kuninobu (Senzaishū I: 2); Composed on the conception of enjoying the cool of the evening, when Minister of Justice Yorisuke held a poetry match. いはたたく谷の水のみおとづれて夏にしられぬみ山べのさと iwa tataku / tani no mizu nomi / otozurete / natsu ni shirarenu / miyamabe no sato ‘Dripping on the rocks / The valley’s waters, alone, / Pay me a call, / All ignorant of summer / At my deep mountain retreat…’ Former Consultant Norinaga (Senzaishū III: 221); and: Composed on the conception of it being chilly bathing in a spring at night. さよふかきいづみの水のおときけばむすばぬそでもすずしかりけり sayo fukaki / izumi no mizu no / oto kikeba / musubanu sode mo / suzushikarikeri ‘Deep within a night so brief / When the water of a spring / I hear, / Though they cannot draw it up, my sleeves / Are cool, indeed.’ Minamoto no Morokata (Goshūishū III: 233)
