Tag Archives: traveller’s robe

Sumiyoshi-sha uta’awase kaō ni-nen 34

Round Nine

Left (Win)

うらさむくしぐるるよはのたびごろもきしのはにふにいたくにほひぬ

ura samuku
shigururu yowa no
tabigoromo
kishi no hanyū ni
itaku nioinu
The bay is cold with
Midnight showers, as
My traveller’s robe
With the shore’s ochre clay
Is deeply stained.

Taifu
67

Right

おもへただみやこのうちのねざめだにしぐるるそらはあはれならずや

omoe tada
miyako no uchi no
nezame dani
shigururu sora wa
aware narazu ya
Simply think of me, when
Within the capital
You start from sleep—
A showery sky is
Sad, isn’t it?

Sadanaga
68

While configuration of the Left’s poem, saying ‘With the shore’s ochre clay / Is deeply stained’ feels crude, it does appear to be in the style of the Myriad Leaves. As for the Right’s poem, its conception is good, but starting, ‘Simply think of me’ begs the question of who this is said to. Such diction is used in poetry exchanges or love poems, in particular. The Left’s poem is most likely superior.

Sumiyoshi-sha uta’awase kaō ni-nen 33

Round Eight

Left

しぐれもるかりいほにぬれてほすころもながゐのあまはとりやたがへむ

shigure moru
kari’io ni nurete
hosu koromo
nagai no ama wa
tori ya tagaemu
Drenched by showers,
In my crude hut my soaked
Robe I dry—
Might a fisherman from Nagai
Take it by mistake?

Koretsuna
65

Right (Win)

ひとりねのあはれひまなきたびごろもしぐれはれてもそではぬれけり

hitorine no
aware himanaki
tabigoromo
shigure haretemo
sode wa nurekeri
Sleeping solo with
No break from my sorrow,
My traveller’s robe,
Even should the showers clear,
Would have soaking sleeves…

Suesada
66

The configuration of the Left is extremely charming, but I do wonder about starting with a sorrowful journey in the showers and then taking a robe by mistake! The conception of the Right, starting with endless sorrow and then saying, ‘even should the showers clear’, seems pleasant. It seems that the Right wins.