Round Nine: Quiet thoughts at Tanabata
Left
八重葎しげる軒ばをかき分けて星合の空をながめつるかな
yae mugura
shigeru nokiba o
kakiwakete
hoshiai no sora o
nagametsuru kana | Eightfold thickets
Grow lushly beneath my eaves;
Pulling them apart upon
The sky of trysting stars
Will I turn my gaze! |
Taira no Sadatsugu[1]
17
Right
七夕のあふよの程は思ひやる心さへこそ空にすみけれ
tanabata no
au yo no hodo wa
omoiyaru
kokoro sae koso
sora ni sumikere | Tanabata is
A night for meeting—throughout it
I am filled with longing:
Even my very heart
Does dwell among the skies. |
Fujiwara no Kaneyuki[2]
18
[1] Taira no Sadatsugu 平貞継. The identity of this individual is unclear. This poem is his sole appearance in a poetry contest.
[2] 藤原兼行
あまのがはほしあひのそらをみるほどもなほわすられぬすずむしのこゑ
ama no gawa
hoshiai no sora o
miru hodo mo
nao wasurarenu
suzumushi no koe | The River of Heaven fills
The sky of trysting stars, and
When I gaze upon it
Even less might I forget
The bell crickets’ song. |
Lady Ukon
Flutes 笛
笛竹のよをさへ月やてらすらん空にも声のすみのぼるかな
fuetake no
yo o sae tsuki ya
terasuran
sora ni mo koe no
suminoboru kana | Is it the flute that
Tonight does make the moon
Seem to shine so bright?
Into the sky its notes
So clearly climb! |
Akinaka
A poem from the Poetry Contest held at the Palace of Former Emperor Uda.
さくら花ちりぬるかぜのなごりには水なき空に浪ぞたちける
sakurabana
tirinuru kaze no
nagori ni Fa
midu naki sora ni
nami zo tatikeru | Cherry blossoms
Scattered, the wind
Leaves a keepsake
In the waterless sky of
A wave of broken petals. |
Tsurayuki
あしひきの山遠き月を空におきて月影高き末の架け橋
ashihiki no
yama tōki tsuki o
sora ni okite
tsukikage takaki
sue no kakehashi | Leg-wearying,
Above the distant mountains, the moon
Hangs in the sky;
Soaring moonbeams
A bridge between the peaks. |
Shōhaku 肖柏 (1443-1527)
Spring Dawn
あづさ弓はるかにみれば山のはによこ雲わたるあけぼののそら
azusayumi
haruka ni mireba
yama no ha ni
yokogumo wataru
akebono no sora | A catalpa bow
Seen in the distance:
Across the mountains’ edge
Trail streaks of cloud in
The sky at dawn. |
Higo
Spring Dawn
山のはのよこ雲ばかりわたりつつみどりにみゆるあけぼのの空
yama no ha no
yokogumo bakari
wataritsutsu
midori ni miyuru
akebono no sora | The mountains’ edge is
Simply streaked with cloud,
Ever trailing ‘cross;
Verdant green does seem
The sky at dawn. |
Kanemasa
Left (Win).
思ひあまりながむる空の掻き曇り月さへ我を厭ひつるかな
omoFi’amari
nagamuru sora no
kakikumori
tuki saFe ware wo
itoFituru kana |
Filled full with love
The sky on which I turn my gaze
Is drowned in darkness;
Even the moon from me
Does shy! |
The Consultant Middle Captain 宰相中将
[Minamoto no Kuninobu 源国信]
25
Right.
嵐吹く夜寒の里の寝覚めにはいとど人こそ恋ひしかりけれ
arasi Fuku
yo samu no sato no
nezame ni Fa
itodo Fito koso
koFisikarikere |
Stom winds rage
Round my night-chilled home;
Starting from sleep
How much more do
I love her now… |
The Minister of Justice 刑部卿
[Minamoto no Akinaka 源顕仲]
26
Early Evening (晩立)
故郷をたづぬる道にかきくらしむら雲さわぐ夕立のそら
furusato o
tazunuru michi ni
kakikurashi
muragumo sawagu
yūdachi no sora | My ancient home
Is visited by paths
Dragged into darkness by
The crowding clouds
In a sky of evening showers. |
Higo
衣手もやや肌寒し夏の夜の月の光は秋の空かは
koromode mo
yaya Fadasamusi
natu no yo no
tuki no Fikari Fa
aki no sora ka Fa |
Even my sleeves
Are slightly chill;
On a summer night
The moon’s light
Recollects the autumn sky… |
Minamoto no Shunrai
源俊頼
'Simply moving and elegant'