Azusayumi Irusa no yama wa akigiri no ataru goto ni ya iro masaruramu - Gosen Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

梓弓いるさの山は秋霧の
当たるごとにや色まさるらむ

Roma-ji: Azusayumi Irusa no yama wa akigiri no ataru goto ni ya iro masaruramu
English Translation: Mount Irusa,
whose name the catalpa bow
is said to shoot—
each time the autumn mists strike it,
does its color deepen more
Meaning: Does Mount Irusa, whose name recalls the shooting of a catalpa bow, deepen in color each time the autumn mist strikes it?
Commentary: Book Seven Autumn Poems III 379

Headnote: "Topic unknown."
The poet wonders whether Mount Irusa deepens in color each time the autumn mist strikes it. From the mountain's name, which suggests "iru," to shoot, it draws out "ataru," to strike, an associated word with the bow, and wittily captures the hills deepening in color as the mist strikes.
Where the poems before it sang of the autumn leaves of Mount Tatsuta, this one sings of the leaves of Mount Irusa.
The poet, Minamoto no Muneyuki, was a son of Prince Koretada, himself a son of Emperor Kōkō, he left the imperial family with the surname Minamoto and served as master of the Right Capital Office, among other posts. He is counted among the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets, and his "yamazato wa fuyu zo sabishisa masarikeru" is included in the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu.

The first line, "Azusayumi," a bow of catalpa wood, is a pillow word for "iru," since a bow is shot.
In the second line, "iru" is a pivot word meaning both "to shoot" a bow and the place name "Irusa." Mount Irusa is said to be a mountain in the province of Tajima.
The third line, "akigiri no," means "the autumn mist."
The fourth line, "ataru goto ni ya," means "each time it strikes," and "ataru" is an associated word with the bow. "Ya" is an interrogative particle.
In the last line, "ramu" is an auxiliary of conjecture forming a kakarimusubi pattern with "ya" in the fourth line: "does its color deepen?"
Author: Minamoto no Muneyuki
Source: Gosen Wakashu
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