when longing comes to me,
I shall gaze and think on them—
maple leaves of red;
do not scatter them away,
O wind that blows down the hills
- Meaning
- When I feel longing, I shall look upon the maple leaves and remember—so do not scatter them, O mountain wind.
- Commentary
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Book Five Autumn Poems (Part Two)
From a feeling of regret at the falling leaves, the poet addresses the wind, having been gazing at the leaves remaining on the branches or those spread upon the ground.
It may also be read as a wish not to have the leaves scattered, since they serve as a means to recall the person for whom the poet longs.
- Author
- Unknown Poet
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
- Other
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- on Tatsuta River maple leaves in wild disorder flow along its course— if I should try to cross it, would that brocade not be torn?
- on Tatsuta River maple leaves drift with the flow— in the sacred hills of Mimuro, high among the gods, showers must be falling now
- unable to withstand the autumn wind, they scatter— maple leaves that fall; like them, with no fixed course, my own path fills me with grief
- autumn has now come; fallen leaves lie thick at my door— maples strewn below; yet no one comes, parting them, treading through to visit me