Round Two

Left (Win)

ならしばのたびのいほりにおとづれてしぐれもいまぞやまめぐりする

narashiba no tabi no iori ni otozurete shigure mo ima zo yama megurisuru

Oak boughs make My traveller’s hut, where I am visited by the sound of Showers—they, too, now Are on pilgrimage through the mountains.[1]

Shōkaku
53

Right

たびごろもうらがなしかるあさぢふによはのしぐれよいかにせよとぞ

tabigoromo uraganashikaru asajū ni yowa no shigure yo ika ni seyo to zo

In my traveller’s garb and Sad at heart among The clumps of cogon grass, O, midnight shower, Tell me, what I am I to do?[2]

Jakuchō
54

While both Left and Right sound pleasant, I make the Left the winner, because it sounds slightly more moving at present, with a traveller’s hut being visited by showers.

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[1]Alluding to: Composed when caught in a shower, while making a pilgrimage to one hundred temples in Higashiyama.  もろともに山めぐりするしぐれかなふるにかひなき身とはしらずや morotomo ni / yamamegurisuru / shigure kana / furu ni kainaki / mi to wa shirazu ya  ‘Together with me / On my mountain pilgrimage are / The showers! / ‘Tis pointless to fall / On my sorry self, don’t you know!’ Master of the Left Capital Office Michimasa (SKS IV: 149)

[2] Alluding to: 旅ごろもうらがなしさにあかしかね草の枕は夢もむすばず tabigoromo / uraganashisa ni / akashikane / kusa no makura wa / yume mo musubazu  ‘In my traveller’s garb / My heart-sickness / I cannot lift, for / My grassy pillow / Brings no dreams, at all…’ Hikaru Genji (Genji monogatari 223)