when rain falls upon
Mount Kasatori, the leaves
of autumn blaze bright—
even the sleeves of those who pass
are lit with their reflected glow.

Meaning

When rain falls, the autumn leaves of Mount Kasatori grow vivid, and even the sleeves of those who pass by are illuminated by their brilliance.

Commentary

Book Five Autumn Poems (Part Two)

Composed at a poetry contest at the residence of Prince Koretada.

Mount Kasatori is identified with Mount Daigo in present-day Uji, Kyoto. The poem likely depicts the mountain ablaze with autumn colors at their height, and perhaps also the people visiting Daigoji at its foot, whose sleeves seem to glow with the reflected brilliance of the leaves.

Author

Mibu no Tadamine

Source

Kokin Wakashu

Other

though rain may fall and even dew should not pass through— on Mount Kasatori, how has it come to be, I wonder, that the leaves are dyed with autumn?
within the sacred fence of the awe-inspiring gods, even the trailing kudzu cannot withstand the autumn— its leaves too have changed their hue.
though not yet fallen, already they are to be regretted— these autumn leaves, for I behold their hues as those that are but for this single time.
for whose sake is it this brocade, that autumn mist should rise and veil it— hiding from sight the mountain slopes of Saho all in its embrace?

when rain falls upon Mount Kasatori, the leaves of autumn blaze bright— even the sleeves of those who pass are lit with their reflected glow.

when rain falls upon
Mount Kasatori, the leaves
of autumn blaze bright—
even the sleeves of those who pass
are lit with their reflected glow.