Tag Archives: sugo

Autumn I: 27

Left.

跡もなく今朝は野分に成にけりしどろに見えし素児が竹墻

ato mo naku
kesa wa nowaki ni
narinikeri
shidoro ni mieshi
sugo ga takegaki
Not a trace remains, after
This morning, when the gales
Came, of
The jumbled sight of
Peasants’ bamboo fences.

Lord Suetsune.

353

Right (Win).

思やるわが心まで萎れきぬ野分する夜の花の色いろ

omoiyaru
wa ga kokoro made
shiborekinu
nowakisuru yoru no
hana no iroiro
Pondering,
Even my heart
Has faded, following
A night of galing,
With the blossoms’ myriad hues…

Jakuren.

354

The Right remark tersely that the Left’s poem is ‘just about “peasants’ bamboo fences” (sugo ga takegaki)’, while the Left reply, ‘and what about “galing” (nowakisuru)?’

Shunzei’s judgement is that ‘the Right’s poem is not bad in form [utazama wa ashikarazaru], but “Gales” must be composed about the wind blowing upon the many blooms on the plains, and to think that the wind would go so far as to cause damage to “peasants’ bamboo fences” is inappropriate. In the Right’s poem, “galing” does not seem a particular fault. By including “even my heart” (wa ga kokoro made) a link is formed between blossoms and emotions [kokoro ni aru ni nitarubeshi]. The Right’s poem has the essence of the topic [hon’i naru ya], does it not? It must win.’