Mugwort in the Grounds[i]

Left

よろづよもときはならなんけふのためいはひておほすそののよもぎは

yorozuyo mo tokiwa naranan kyō no tame iwaite ōsu sono no yomogi wa

For ten thousand ages more Evergreen, I would you be! For today’s Celebration, lushly growing Mugwort in the grounds…

3

Right

そののうちにおふるよもぎのえだしげみすゑさかゆべくみゆるきみかな

sono no uchi ni ouru yomogi no eda shigemi sue sakayubeku miyuru kimi kana

Within the grounds A’growing, the mugwort’s Branches are lush To the very end they flourish, As do you appear to, my Lord!

4

In ancient times, folk arose on this day with the dawn together with the birds and, taking those branches of mugwort from within their grounds that resembled people, dried them in the shade and made medicinal draughts—I wonder, were both Left and Right unaware of this? There is not even a dewdrop’s worth of diction in accordance with the topic, so I must make this round a tie.

かたかたにとるかたもなきよもぎぐさひとかずならぬここちこそすれ

katakata ni toru kata mo naki yomogigusa hito kazu naranu kokochi koso sure

Both sides say Nothing noteworthy about Mugwort plants,so Neither is worth much, I feel!

Judge 2

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[i] Sono no naka no yomogi 園中蓬