When autumn bush clover
has come now into bloom,
on Takasago’s peak
the stag upon the mountain
must now be crying as well.
- Meaning
- Now that the autumn bush clover has come into bloom, the stag on the peak of Takasago must also be crying.
- Commentary
-
Book Four Autumn Poems (Part One)
The blooming of bush clover coincides with the season when stags cry in search of their mates. Seeing the flowers in bloom, the poet lets the mind travel to distant lands, imagining the cries of deer there.
“Onoue” means the peak of a mountain.
“Takasago” is thought to refer to the area of present-day Hyōgo Prefecture.
- Author
- Fujiwara no Toshiyuki
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
- Other
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- Before autumn bush clover, as I sit in quiet sorrow— from the mountain’s foot, resounding through the valleys, the stag’s cry seems to echo.
- Through autumn bush clover, pushing down the tangled stems, the stag gives its cry— though unseen to the watching eye, its voice rings clear and sharp.
- On old branches of autumn bush clover now bloom flowers I behold— and the heart I once had then has not been forgotten yet.
- From this very time when lower leaves of bush clover take on autumn hues, shall one who lies down alone find it ever hard to sleep?