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?

Meaning

For whose sake is it that the autumn mist rises and hides the slopes of Mount Saho, as if concealing a brocade?

Commentary

Book Five Autumn Poems (Part Two)

Composed upon seeing mist rising over Mount Saho during a journey in the province of Yamato.

Wishing to behold the autumn leaves of Mount Saho, the poet instead finds them hidden by mist. He imagines that Saho-hime, the goddess of spring who presides over dyeing and weaving, has woven the leaves into a brocade and concealed it for someone. The autumn leaves are thus likened to a brocade woven by the goddess.

Mount Saho is located in present-day Nara.

Author

Ki no Tomonori

Source

Kokin Wakashu

Other

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.
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.
on Mount Saho, though the hahaso leaves are pale in hue, yet all the same autumn has grown ever deeper— so it has come to be.
if well and firmly planted, will it not bloom again when autumn returns? though flowers may fall and scatter, how could the root itself wither?

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?

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?