年ごとにもみぢば流す竜田河
みなとや秋のとまりなるらむ
みなとや秋のとまりなるらむ
- Roma-ji
-
Toshi goto ni momijiba nagasu Tatsutagawa
minato ya aki no tomari naruramu - English Translation
-
year after year
the Tatsuta River sends down
crimson autumn leaves—
is its harbor the place where
autumn comes to its rest
- Meaning
- Year after year, the Tatsuta River carries away crimson leaves—perhaps its harbor is where autumn finally comes to rest.
- Commentary
-
Book Five Autumn Poems (Part Two)
This poem reflects on the end of autumn through thoughts of the Tatsuta River.
The autumn leaves, which symbolize the season, flow down the river each year and finally arrive at its harbor. The poet imagines that this place, where they come to rest, may be the very end of autumn itself. The poem presents a contemplative and somewhat abstract vision of autumn’s passing.
“Minato” refers to the river mouth, and “tomari” means a stopping place or final destination.
- Author
- Ki no Tsurayuki
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
- Other
-
- scarlet leaves I will gather into my sleeves and carry them with me— for those who have already thought that autumn is done
- 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
- in the evening moonlight on Mount Ogura a deer cries— within its calling voice has autumn come to its end and faded away there
- had I known the way I would have gone to seek it— scattering maple leaves as offerings along the path autumn has already gone