even the path I came
I no longer can discern—
on Mount Kurabu, dark,
as the leaves of many trees
fall in a blinding scatter

Meaning

Even the way I came I can no longer tell—on Mount Kurabu, where the falling leaves of many trees scatter in confusion.

Commentary

Book Five Autumn Poems (Part Two)

A poem composed for a poetry contest at the residence of Prince Koretada.

It depicts a scene in which so many leaves are falling that one cannot even tell the direction from which one has come.

“Mount Kurabu,” written with characters meaning “dark,” is an old name for Mount Kurama, located in the northern part of present-day Kyoto.

Author

Fujiwara no Toshiyuki

Source

Kokin Wakashu

Other

the autumn leaves flow on and come to rest at the river’s mouth— there, do waves arise deeply dyed in crimson
even in ages of gods never once has it been heard— the Tatsuta River binding its flowing waters in deep-dyed scarlet
when I pass in autumn through Mimuro, sacred mount, where the gods abide— it feels as though I have cut and wear a robe of brocade
with no one to behold they scatter and fall away— deep in the mountains; these autumn leaves are but brocade worn in the night

even the path I came I no longer can discern— on Mount Kurabu, dark, as the leaves of many trees fall in a blinding scatter

even the path I came
I no longer can discern—
on Mount Kurabu, dark,
as the leaves of many trees
fall in a blinding scatter