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

Meaning

The dew that falls upon the autumn watch-hut in the mountain fields—are they the tears of the rice-bearing bird?

Commentary

Book Five Autumn Poems (Part Two)

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

A temporary hut is built to guard the mountain rice fields from animals; the poem imagines that the dew falling upon it is in fact the tears shed by the rice-bearing bird.

The “rice-bearing bird” (inaose-dori) is one of the three legendary birds of the Kokin tradition, and its true nature is unknown.

Author

Mibu no Tadamine

Source

Kokin Wakashu

Other

when the wind blows forth the falling autumn leaves drop— the water so clear; even those yet unfallen are seen deep upon the bottom
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
though no ears appear I guard the mountain rice fields— in my humble dress; there is not a single day I am not soaked with the dew
in fields already reaped the shoots that rise anew yet put forth no ears— is it that even the world has wearied now beyond all

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

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