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

Other

though from the selfsame branch the leaves begin to change their hues— it is from the west that autumn first arrives, and thus the turning colors come to be.
since the very day the autumn wind began to blow, on Mount Otowa even the treetops on the peak have taken on autumn hues.
though autumn night dew rests there as but dew alone— could it instead be the tears of passing wild geese that stain the fields with their hue?
because autumn dew settles in many differing ways, upon the hills the leaves upon the trees are turned into a thousand varied hues.

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?

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?