女郎花吹きすぎてくる秋風は
目には見えねど香こそしるけれ
目には見えねど香こそしるけれ
- Roma-ji
-
Ominaeshi fukisugite kuru akikaze wa
me ni wa mienedo ka koso shirukere - English Translation
-
Autumn wind that blows
past the maidenflowers comes on—
though unseen to eyes,
its fragrance alone reveals
clearly that it has passed by.
- Meaning
- The autumn wind that has passed over the maidenflowers cannot be seen, yet its fragrance clearly reveals it.
- Commentary
-
Book Four Autumn Poems (Part One)
Composed and presented at the maidenflower contest held at the Suzaku-in.
The poem expresses how the scent of maidenflowers is carried by the autumn wind. Though the wind itself is invisible, its presence is clearly known through the fragrance it brings.
“Shirukere” is the realis form of “shirushi,” meaning something evident or clearly perceptible.
- Author
- Oshikochi no Mitsune
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
- Other
-
- Since autumn belongs not to any single one, maidenflower, why do you show your color so soon, fading even before its time?
- The stag cries aloud, seeking ever for his mate— maidenflower, you, do you not know that you grow in the field where he abides?
- seen by others is it so hard to bear— the maidenflower that in the autumn mist alone seems ever to hide itself
- Rather than alone gazing on you in longing, maidenflower fair, I would that I might plant you within the dwelling where I live.