in the evening moonlight
on Mount Ogura a deer cries—
within its calling voice
has autumn come to its end
and faded away there

Meaning

In the evening moonlight, as a deer cries on Mount Ogura, perhaps within that voice autumn is coming to its end.

Commentary

Book Five Autumn Poems (Part Two)

This poem was composed at Ōi on the last day of the ninth month.

“Evening moonlight” refers to the faint moon seen in the western sky at dusk. The poet overlays the ending of the day with the ending of autumn, hearing in the cry of the deer the passing of the season.

Ōi is near present-day Arashiyama in Kyoto, and Mount Ogura lies on the left bank of the Ōi River nearby.

Author

Ki no Tsurayuki

Source

Kokin Wakashu

Other

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
year after year the Tatsuta River sends down crimson autumn leaves— is its harbor the place where autumn comes to its rest
had I known the way I would have gone to seek it— scattering maple leaves as offerings along the path autumn has already gone
the Tatsuta River weaves and spreads brocade— in the godless month with showers of passing rain as warp and weft entwined

in the evening moonlight on Mount Ogura a deer cries— within its calling voice has autumn come to its end and faded away there

in the evening moonlight
on Mount Ogura a deer cries—
within its calling voice
has autumn come to its end
and faded away there