Kono koro no akatokitsuyu ni waga yado no hagi no shitaba wa irozukinikeri

このころの暁露に我がやどの
萩の下葉は色づきにけり

Roma-ji: Kono koro no akatokitsuyu ni waga yado no hagi no shitaba wa irozukinikeri
English Translation: In these days of late
with the dew before the dawn,
at my own dwelling
the lower leaves of bush clover
have turned color, as I see.
Meaning: With the dew before dawn these days, the lower leaves of the bush clover at my home have turned color.
Commentary: Book Ten Autumn Miscellaneous Poems 2182

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "On Autumn Leaves"
This poem notices that the lower leaves of the bush clover at home have turned color with the pre-dawn dew of these days. Whereas the preceding poem sang of the distant foliage of Mount Kasuga, this one sings of the coloring of the lower leaves of the clover at home, a contrast of far and near. It shares with the preceding poem the idea of dew causing the color.

The first line, "of these days," sets the time.
In the second line, "akatokitsuyu ni," "akatoki" means the dark hours before dawn.
The third line, "of my dwelling," names the place.
In the fourth line, "hagi no shitaba wa," "shitaba" means lower leaves.
In the last line, "irozukinikeri," "keri" expresses realization, closing with notice of color close at hand.
Source: Manyoshu
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