Momijiba no iro o shi soete nagarureba asaku mo miezu yamakawa no mizu - Shui Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

紅葉葉の色をし添へて流るれば
浅くも見えず山川の水

Roma-ji: Momijiba no iro o shi soete nagarureba asaku mo miezu yamakawa no mizu
English Translation: Since it flows along
with the color added in
of the autumn leaves,
it does not seem shallow now,
the water of the mountain stream.
Meaning: Because it flows with the color of the autumn leaves added to it, the water of the mountain stream does not look shallow at all.
Commentary: Book Three Autumn Poems 194

Headnote: "Topic unknown"
Because the mountain stream carries autumn leaves as it flows, the depth of their color makes even its shallow water look anything but shallow. It is a witty poem that recasts the depth of the leaves' color as the depth of the water.

First line, "momijiba no," refers to leaves that have turned color.
Second line, "iro o shi soete," means "adding their color," with "shi" as an intensifying particle.
Third line, "nagarureba," means "since it flows so," with "ba" marking an established condition.
Fourth line, "asaku mo miezu," means "it does not look shallow," overlaying the depth of color with the depth of water. The poem pauses here.
Final line, "yamakawa no mizu," ends on a noun, naming at last by inversion what is being seen. From here, poems follow on autumn leaves flowing in water and mirrored in it.
Author: Unknown Poet
Source: Shui Wakashu
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