久方の月の桂も秋は猶
紅葉すればや照りまさるらむ
紅葉すればや照りまさるらむ
- Roma-ji
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Hisakata no tsuki no katsura mo aki wa nao
momiji sureba ya terimasaruramu - English Translation
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In the moon above,
the cassia tree there too, perhaps,
in autumn still
turns to crimson leaves—so that
its light shines all the more bright.
- Meaning
- Even the cassia tree said to be in the moon—perhaps because it turns red in autumn—the moonlight seems to shine all the more brightly.
- Commentary
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Book Four Autumn Poems (Part One)
This poem was composed and paired at a poetry contest held at the residence of Prince Koretada.
It imagines that the moon in autumn appears more beautiful because the cassia tree, said in Chinese legend to grow upon the moon, has turned to autumn colors.
Though the tree belongs to legend, the poem suggests that autumn exists in the heavens as it does on earth, and that even this mythical tree takes on autumn hues, reflecting the poet’s rich sensitivity.
“Hisakata no” is a pillow word for “moon.”
- Author
- Mibu no Tadamine
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
- Prev Poem
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Tsuki mireba chiji ni mono koso kanashikere
waga mi hitotsu no aki ni wa aranedo - Next Poem
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Aki no yo no tsuki no hikari shi akareba
Kurabu no yama mo koenu beranari