raised by autumn winds
upon the shore of Fukiage, stand
these white chrysanthemums—
are they flowers, or could they be
the waves that gather on the shore?

Meaning

The white chrysanthemums standing on the wind-swept shore of Fukiage—are they flowers, or are they the waves breaking upon the shore?

Commentary

Book Five Autumn Poems (Part Two)

Composed at a chrysanthemum contest held during the Kanpyō era, in connection with chrysanthemums planted upon an artificial shore (suhama) made to resemble Fukiage Beach.

The poem plays on “fukiage,” meaning both “blown up by the autumn wind” and the place name Fukiage. The white chrysanthemums planted on the model shore resemble the white-crested waves washing upon the beach.

Fukiage Beach refers to the area near the mouth of the Kinokawa River in present-day Wakayama and is a well-known poetic place name.

Author

Sugawara no Michizane

Source

Kokin Wakashu

Other

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?
drenched, I dry my robes on a mountain path, among chrysanthemums— within the space of this dew, when did I pass a thousand years?
gazing on the flowers, while I wait for one to come— white as fine cloth sleeves, so I thought them and mistook what I saw before my eyes

raised by autumn winds upon the shore of Fukiage, stand these white chrysanthemums— are they flowers, or could they be the waves that gather on the shore?

raised by autumn winds
upon the shore of Fukiage, stand
these white chrysanthemums—
are they flowers, or could they be
the waves that gather on the shore?