秋の山紅葉をぬさとたむくれば
住む我さへぞ旅ごこちする
住む我さへぞ旅ごこちする
- Roma-ji
-
Aki no yama momiji o nusa to tamukureba
sumu ware sae zo tabigokochi suru - English Translation
-
in autumn mountains
the reddened leaves as offerings
are laid before the gods—
even I who dwell here feel
as though I were on a journey
- Meaning
- When the autumn mountains offer their red leaves like sacred streamers, even I who dwell here feel as though I were on a journey.
- Commentary
-
Book Five Autumn Poems (Part Two)
Composed when living in Ono, near Kyoto, upon seeing the autumn leaves.
“Nusa” are small strips of paper or cloth used as offerings when praying for safety on a journey. Here, the autumn leaves are likened to such offerings. Though the poet remains at home, the unfamiliar beauty of the scene makes him feel as though he were traveling.
- Author
- Ki no Tsurayuki
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
- Other
-
- with no one to behold they scatter and fall away— deep in the mountains; these autumn leaves are but brocade worn in the night
- since there is a god who makes offerings to Tatsuta the goddess fair— the autumn leaves must fall like sacred streamers scattered
- as autumn passes on beyond the sacred Kannabi mountain of the gods— upon the Tatsuta River it makes offerings of leaves
- upon the white waves autumn leaves drift and float— as I gaze at them they seem a fisher’s boat set adrift upon the sea