from this time onward
I shall not even plant to see
the plume of silver grass—
for when its ears emerge in autumn
the loneliness grows too deep.

Meaning

From now on, I will not even plant it to admire. When the plume-grass comes into ear in autumn, it brings such deep loneliness.

Commentary

Book Four Autumn Poems (Part One)

The flowering susuki (pampas grass) is a sign of autumn, and it had been customary to plant it in one’s garden for viewing. Yet the poet resolves not even to plant it, for it brings a sense of desolation.

Perhaps some change in the poet’s circumstances has made autumn feel especially lonely.

"Hana-susuki" refers to pampas grass with its plumes in bloom.

Author

Taira no Sadabumi

Source

Kokin Wakashu

Other

is it a keepsake of one who lodged here before— wisteria-robe? ever breathing forth a scent so hard for me to forget.
a scent without a lord comes drifting forth in fragrance— on autumn fields wide, whose might it be, cast off and left, this wisteria-robe I see?
is it the grasses’ sleeves in the autumn fields that I see? plumes of silver grass emerging, seem to beckon— like sleeves that call me near.
am I alone in this to find such beauty moving? crickets softly cry— in the evening’s fading light blooms the yamato-nadeshiko.

from this time onward I shall not even plant to see the plume of silver grass— for when its ears emerge in autumn the loneliness grows too deep.

from this time onward
I shall not even plant to see
the plume of silver grass—
for when its ears emerge in autumn
the loneliness grows too deep.