classic waka stream

秋風の吹きくる宵はきりぎりす
草のねごとに声乱れけり
Roma-ji

Akikaze no fukikuru yoi wa kirigirisu kusa no ne goto ni koe midarekeri

English Translation
On evenings when
the autumn wind comes blowing,
the crickets' voices
at the roots of every grass
in tangled song are raised
Meaning
On evenings when the autumn wind comes blowing, the crickets' voices rise in a tangle from the roots of every grass.
Commentary
Book Five Autumn Poems I 257

Headnote: "Topic unknown."
The poet says that on evenings when the autumn wind comes blowing, the crickets cry in a tangle from the roots of every grass. In insect voices heard in confusion from every clump of grass, it conveys the deepening of the autumn night.
From 254 to 261, this book sets eight untitled poems by Ki no Tsurayuki in a row, turning in order to the voices of autumn insects: the evening cicada, the cricket, and the pine cricket.
The poet, called "Tsurayuki," is Ki no Tsurayuki. A son of Ki no Mochiyuki, he was the leading compiler of the Kokin Wakashū and wrote its kana preface. He served as governor of Tosa among other posts, is known as the author of the Tosa Diary, and is counted among the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets.

The first line, "Akikaze no," means "the autumn wind."
The second line, "fukikuru yoi wa," means "on evenings when it comes blowing."
The third line, "kirigirisu," is an autumn insect corresponding to today's cricket. From the evening cicada of the preceding poems, the sequence turns here to the cricket. The next poem, 258, also sets "kirigirisu" in its third line.
In the fourth line, "ne" is a pivot word joining "ne," the roots of grass, and "ne," the sound of insects: "at every root of grass," and "in every cry."
The last line, "koe midarekeri," means "the voices sound in a tangle," with "keri" a sigh of realization.
Author
Ki no Tsurayuki
Source
Gosen Wakashu
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