in the deep mountains
on rocky cliffs, the maple leaves
seem about to fall—
never once seeing the light
of the sun that brightly shines

Meaning

In the deep mountains, the maple leaves clinging to rocky cliffs seem ready to fall, never having seen the shining light of the sun.

Commentary

Book Five Autumn Poems (Part Two)

A poem composed while the poet, long absent from court service, lived in seclusion in a mountain village.

“The shining light of the sun” alludes to the emperor, while “the maple leaves on rocky cliffs deep in the mountains” represent the poet himself. Unable to serve at court due to illness or other reasons, he compares his secluded life to leaves about to fall, expressing a sense of resignation toward a quiet and solitary end.

The poet, Fujiwara no Sekio, after holding various court positions, withdrew due to illness and lived in the Higashiyama area. He excelled in the koto and calligraphy and was known as the “Higashiyama Scholar.”

Author

Fujiwara no Sekiwo

Source

Kokin Wakashu

Other

in the deep mountains on rocky cliffs, the maple leaves seem about to fall— never once seeing the light of the sun that brightly shines

in the deep mountains
on rocky cliffs, the maple leaves
seem about to fall—
never once seeing the light
of the sun that brightly shines