when the wind blows forth
the falling autumn leaves drop—
the water so clear;
even those yet unfallen
are seen deep upon the bottom

Meaning

When the wind blows, the autumn leaves fall—but the water is so clear that even those not yet fallen are seen upon the bottom.

Commentary

Book Five Autumn Poems (Part Two)

Composed upon seeing autumn leaves fall by the side of a pond.

It depicts a beautiful autumn waterside scene: leaves fallen upon the surface, leaves still remaining on the branches, and their reflections seen upon the bottom. Though the reflected leaves are but an illusion, they may also suggest the leaves that will in time fall, lending a quiet sense of transience.

Author

Oshikochi no Mitsune

Source

Kokin Wakashu

Other

if the autumn leaves had not flowed drifting along the Tatsuta River— who then would ever know that autumn had reached its waters
on mountain streams the wind has cast a barrier— a woven fence of leaves; they cannot drift away, these autumn leaves caught fast
I will pause awhile to gaze, and then make my way across the flowing stream— though leaves fall like the rain, the waters will not rise
in the mountain fields on an autumn watchman’s hut the dewdrops that fall— are they not the falling tears of the rice-bearing bird

when the wind blows forth the falling autumn leaves drop— the water so clear; even those yet unfallen are seen deep upon the bottom

when the wind blows forth
the falling autumn leaves drop—
the water so clear;
even those yet unfallen
are seen deep upon the bottom