Crimson leaves have fallen
and lie piled at my dwelling—
in this lonely place,
for whom does the cricket cry,
so many times, in waiting?

Meaning

At my dwelling where fallen crimson leaves lie piled, for whom does the cricket cry so often, as if waiting?

Commentary

Book Four Autumn Poems (Part One)

The fallen leaves piled in the garden suggest a place where no visitors come. Though no one is expected to arrive, the cricket continues to cry—so for whom is it waiting?

The poet, who may already have given up waiting, seems nonetheless to hold some lingering hope.
“Matsumushi,” the bell cricket, carries a wordplay with “to wait,” deepening the sense of longing.

Author

Unknown Poet

Source

Kokin Wakashu

Other

In autumn fields, I have lost my way among paths— toward the cricket’s cry, perhaps I should make my way and seek a place to lodge the night.
In autumn fields, the waiting cricket’s voice is heard— is it for me, then? I will go and see at once, and pay a visit there tonight.
As evening cicadas begin their cries, the day seems done— so I thought at first; yet it was but the mountain’s shadow that had fallen there.
In a mountain village where evening cicadas cry— at dusk’s fading hour, there comes no one to visit but the wind alone that passes.

Crimson leaves have fallen and lie piled at my dwelling— in this lonely place, for whom does the cricket cry, so many times, in waiting?

Crimson leaves have fallen
and lie piled at my dwelling—
in this lonely place,
for whom does the cricket cry,
so many times, in waiting?