み山より落ちくる水の色見てぞ
秋は限りと思ひ知りぬる
秋は限りと思ひ知りぬる
- Roma-ji
-
Miyama yori ochikuru mizu no iro mite zo
aki wa kagiri to omoi shirinuru - English Translation
-
from the deep mountains
the water that comes falling down—
seeing its color
I have come to know at last
that autumn has reached its end
- Meaning
- Seeing the color of the water that falls from the deep mountains, I have come to realize that autumn has reached its end.
- Commentary
-
Book Five Autumn Poems (Part Two)
When, in the reign of Emperor Kōkō, an order was given to present ancient poems, the poet wrote the poem beginning “Tatsuta River, with crimson leaves flowing,” and composed this in the same spirit.
Without directly naming the autumn leaves, the poet expresses them through the color of the water at the end of autumn, from which one understands that the leaves have fallen and are flowing downstream. In this way, the poem conveys a quiet sorrow at the passing of autumn.
- Author
- Fujiwara no Okikaze
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
- Other
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- 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
- scarlet leaves I will gather into my sleeves and carry them with me— for those who have already thought that autumn is done
- year after year the Tatsuta River sends down crimson autumn leaves— is its harbor the place where autumn comes to its rest
- in the evening moonlight on Mount Ogura a deer cries— within its calling voice has autumn come to its end and faded away there