At no set time
are such thoughts confined—yet still,
on autumn nights,
they reach their utmost depth,
with no end to pondering.

Meaning

Though there is no fixed time when one does not fall into thought, it is on autumn nights that such reflections reach their utmost depth.

Commentary

Book Four Autumn Poems (Part One)

This poem was paired in a poetry contest at the residence of Prince Koretada.

It expresses the act of reflection, suggesting that although such thoughts are not bound to any one season, it is on autumn nights that they deepen without limit.
The cause of these thoughts is not revealed, but they seem to be conceptually linked with the season of autumn.

Author

Unknown Poet

Source

Kokin Wakashu

Other

In all things alike autumn is full of sorrow— as leaves turn to red, and pass away in their change, we feel it marks their end.
Though where I lie alone is no bed of grass and leaves— on autumn nights, it seems as though it is wet with the dew that settles there.
On such a night that I would cherish so deeply— to pass it in vain, sleeping it through till morning— even such people seem distasteful.
White clouds drift on— with beating wings they cross and fly, the passing wild geese; even their number is seen in the moon of an autumn night.

At no set time are such thoughts confined—yet still, on autumn nights, they reach their utmost depth, with no end to pondering.

At no set time
are such thoughts confined—yet still,
on autumn nights,
they reach their utmost depth,
with no end to pondering.