warp threads of white frost
and weft threads of the dew—
how weak they must be;
the brocade of the mountain
once woven, at once falls apart

Meaning

The warp of frost and the weft of dew must be weak—the mountain’s brocade, once woven, falls apart at once.

Commentary

Book Five Autumn Poems (Part Two)

“Mountain brocade” refers to autumn leaves. At the time, it was believed that frost and dew dyed the leaves red and yellow. Thus frost and dew are likened to the threads that weave the mountain’s brocade, yet since it soon scatters, the poem suggests that those threads must be weak.

As frost and dew vanish so quickly, the poem laments the fleeting beauty of the autumn leaves.

“Tate” means warp threads, and “nuki” means weft threads.

Author

Fujiwara no Sekiwo

Source

Kokin Wakashu

Other

the autumn moonlight clearly lights the mountain side— is it so that I may behold and count them all, these falling maple leaves?
the blowing autumn wind seemed in many varied hues— so it appeared; it is but the falling leaves of the trees in autumn time
a man in loneliness who comes apart to stand beneath a certain tree— even the shade he trusted is gone, the leaves all fallen
the autumn leaves flow on and come to rest at the river’s mouth— there, do waves arise deeply dyed in crimson

warp threads of white frost and weft threads of the dew— how weak they must be; the brocade of the mountain once woven, at once falls apart

warp threads of white frost
and weft threads of the dew—
how weak they must be;
the brocade of the mountain
once woven, at once falls apart