Maidenflowers sway
in autumn fields, bent by the wind—
so too her heart;—
to whom, I wonder, does she
give that single, wayward heart?

Meaning

The maidenflowers bend in the autumn wind across the fields; so too, to whom does that single heart turn?

Commentary

Book Four Autumn Poems (Part One)

Composed and presented at the maidenflower contest held at the Suzaku-in.

The poem likens a woman of many loves to the maidenflower swaying in the autumn wind. From a man’s perspective, it may express curiosity about whom her heart is given, or perhaps a sense of disapproval that she does not fix her affection on one alone.

“Suzaku-in” refers to the residence of the Retired Emperor Uda, and may also indicate the emperor himself. The site is in present-day Kyoto.

Author

Fujiwara no Tokihira

Source

Kokin Wakashu

Other

In autumn fields now I shall take my lodging here— maidenflower blooms; dear its very name to me, though I am not on a journey.
If I should lodge there in fields where maidenflowers bloom in great numbers, without cause, a fleeting name would surely rise about me.
Maidenflower, you— hard it is to meet but in the autumn alone;— though you do not grow, in truth, upon Heaven’s river shore.
Since autumn belongs not to any single one, maidenflower, why do you show your color so soon, fading even before its time?

Maidenflowers sway in autumn fields, bent by the wind— so too her heart;— to whom, I wonder, does she give that single, wayward heart?

Maidenflowers sway
in autumn fields, bent by the wind—
so too her heart;—
to whom, I wonder, does she
give that single, wayward heart?