the plovers are calling
mist rises on the Saho River—
it must be so now
even the leaves upon the hills
grow deeper in their autumn hues

Meaning

The plovers are calling, and mist must be rising over the Saho River; even the leaves upon the hills are deepening in color.

Commentary

Book Seven Felicitations

An autumn poem among those written on a screen painted with scenes of the four seasons, at the fortieth-year celebration banquet of Fujiwara no Sadakuni, composed by the Naishi-no-Kami.

Seeing the autumn leaves deepen in color, the poet imagines that the river, too, must be covered in mist. In earlier times, it was believed that mist and dew transformed leaves into shades of red and gold, and this idea is reflected in the poem.
The Saho River flows through the city of Nara.

Author

Mibu no Tadamine

Source

Kokin Wakashu

Other

not a rare voice and yet the cuckoo’s calling— through these many years never does it weary me still it leaves me unsated
through Suminoe pines the autumn wind begins to blow— and with added sound the white waves off the open sea rise and join their voices too

the plovers are calling mist rises on the Saho River— it must be so now even the leaves upon the hills grow deeper in their autumn hues

the plovers are calling
mist rises on the Saho River—
it must be so now
even the leaves upon the hills
grow deeper in their autumn hues