in the lofty heights
above the clouds where I behold
these blooming chrysanthemums—
they are mistaken, it would seem,
for stars set in the heavens.

Meaning

The chrysanthemums seen above the clouds are mistaken for the stars of heaven.

Commentary

Book Five Autumn Poems (Part Two)

A poem composed during the reign of Emperor Uda on the theme of chrysanthemums.

A note to the poem states that it was composed and presented before the poet had yet been granted permission to attend court.

“Above the clouds” refers to the imperial court. Chrysanthemums were introduced from China around the late Nara to early Heian period, and at the time were rare, likely seen only by those of high rank. The poem expresses the beauty of these rarely seen flowers.

“Hisakata no” is a pillow word for “clouds.”

Author

Fujiwara no Toshiyuki

Source

Kokin Wakashu

Other

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?
still with its dew upon it, I shall pluck and wear the chrysanthemum— so that this autumn, which knows no aging, may endure and last for long unending days.
when first I planted it, how I longed to see it bloom— this chrysanthemum; yet did I ever think I would meet it in autumn as it fades away?

in the lofty heights above the clouds where I behold these blooming chrysanthemums— they are mistaken, it would seem, for stars set in the heavens.

in the lofty heights
above the clouds where I behold
these blooming chrysanthemums—
they are mistaken, it would seem,
for stars set in the heavens.