Aki chikō no wa narinikeri shiratsuyu no okeru kusaba mo iro kawariyuku - Kokin Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

あきちかうのはなりにけり白露の
置ける草葉も色変はりゆく

Roma-ji: Aki chikō no wa narinikeri shiratsuyu no okeru kusaba mo iro kawariyuku
English Translation: Close upon autumn
the fields have now become, I see—
where the white dew
lies upon the grassy leaves
even they are changing hue.
Meaning: The fields, I see, have drawn close to autumn: even the grass leaves where the white dew lies are turning to new colors.
Commentary: Book Ten Names of Things 440

Headnote: "Balloon flower"
This poem notes that the fields have drawn near to autumn and that even the dew-laden grass is changing color. The title "kichikō no hana" (balloon flower) is hidden in "aki chikō no wa na" across the first and second lines. "Kichikō" is the Sino-Japanese reading of the balloon flower, and, fitting a flower of early autumn, the poem depicts the change in the fields as autumn approaches. Whereas "Aki wa kinu" in 432 of this book declares that autumn has come, this poem sees its approach in the color of the grasses.
The poet, "Tomonori," is Ki no Tomonori. A cousin of Ki no Tsurayuki, he was one of the compilers of the Kokinshu but died before it was completed. He is one of the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets.

First line "Aki chikō" is a sound-changed form of "aki chikaku," meaning "near to autumn." The title begins with the "ki" of "aki."
Second line "no wa narinikeri" means "the fields have become so," expressing realization. With the first line it hides the title "kichikō no hana." The poem pauses here.
Third line "shiratsuyu no" is the dew on the grasses, a token announcing autumn.
Fourth line "okeru kusaba mo" uses "ru," the attributive of the continuative auxiliary "ri," meaning "even the grass leaves where the dew lies."
Fifth line "iro kawariyuku" means "gradually changing color," closing on the changing face of the fields.
Author: Ki no Tomonori
Source: Kokin Wakashu
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