招くとて立ちも止まらぬ秋ゆゑに
あはれかたよる花すすきかな
あはれかたよる花すすきかな
- Roma-ji
-
Maneku tote tachi mo tomaranu aki yue ni aware katayoru hanasusuki kana
- English Translation
-
Though it beckons on,
autumn does not stop or stay,
and so for its sake,
ah, all bending to one side,
the plumed pampas grass sways there.
- Meaning
- Because autumn will not stop though it is beckoned, the plumed pampas grass, alas, bends all to one side.
- Commentary
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Book Three Autumn Poems 213
Headnote: "Topic unknown"
However much it beckons, autumn will not stop but passes on, and the poet finds it moving that the plumed pampas grass bends all to one side for its sake. In the figure of pampas grass trying to hold back the departing autumn, the poem entrusts its regret at autumn's passing.
The author, written as Yoshitada, is Sone no Yoshitada. Called Sotan because he served as a secretary of Tango Province, he was a poet of the mid-Heian period known for his fresh style and is counted among the Later Thirty-Six Immortal Poets.
First line, "maneku tote," means "though it beckons." Taking up "maneku naruran" in 156 and 192 of this book, the beckoning of pampas grass is sung of again.
Second line, "tachi mo tomaranu," means "does not even stop."
Third line, "aki yue ni," means "because of autumn," likening the departing autumn to a person.
Fourth line, "aware katayoru," means "ah, it leans to one side," with "aware" as an interjection, describing the grass bending one way as if following the departing autumn.
Final line, "hanasusuki kana," means "the plumed pampas grass," with the exclamatory particle "kana." The grass that beckoned toward the departing wind in 192 here beckons to the departing autumn, announcing the end of the season as the book draws to a close.
- Author
- Sone no Yoshitada
- Source
- Shui Wakashu
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