白露の色はひとつをいかにして
秋の木の葉を千々にそむらむ
秋の木の葉を千々にそむらむ
- Roma-ji
-
Shiratsuyu no iro wa hitotsu o ika ni shite
aki no ko no ha o chiji ni somuramu - English Translation
-
though white dew bears
but a single hue—how is it
that in autumn
the leaves upon the trees are dyed
into a thousand differing shades?
- Meaning
- Though the color of white dew is but one, how is it that it dyes the autumn leaves into so many varied hues?
- Commentary
-
Book Five Autumn Poems (Part Two)
Composed at a poetry contest at the residence of Prince Koretada.
At the time, it was believed that dew or autumn showers caused the leaves to change color. In this poem, the poet wonders how the single white color of dew can dye the leaves into many different hues. The contrast between “one” and “a thousand” emphasizes the richness of autumn colors.
- Author
- Fujiwara no Toshiyuki
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
- Prev Poem
-
Akikaze no fukinishi hi yori Otowayama
mine no kozue mo irozukinikeri - Next Poem
-
Aki no yo no tsuyu o ba tsuyu to okinagara
kari no namida ya nobe o somuramu