唐錦枝にひとむら残れるは
秋の形見をたたぬなりけり
秋の形見をたたぬなりけり
- Roma-ji
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Karanishiki eda ni hitomura nokoreru wa aki no katami o tatanu narikeri
- English Translation
-
Brocade from Cathay,
a single cluster left upon
the branch remaining—
autumn's keepsake has been spared,
left uncut, and so it stays.
- Meaning
- That a single cluster of brocade-like leaves remains on the branch is because autumn left its keepsake uncut.
- Commentary
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Book Four Winter Poems 220
Headnote: "On seeing autumn leaves that remained unfallen"
The poet likens a single cluster of leaves left on a branch to Chinese brocade and sees it as a keepsake that autumn left behind without cutting it off. Regret for the departed autumn is expressed through the witty conceit of cutting brocade. According to the headnote, it was composed on seeing autumn leaves that remained unfallen.
The author, written as Archbishop Henjō, was born Yoshimine no Munesada, a grandson of Emperor Kanmu. He took holy orders upon the death of Emperor Ninmyō and rose to the rank of archbishop. He is counted among the Six Poetic Immortals and the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets.
First line, "karanishiki," is fine imported brocade, a figure for the autumn leaves. As in 216 of this book, the leaves are seen as brocade.
Second line, "eda ni hitomura," means "a cluster on the branch."
Third line, "nokoreru wa," means "that which remains," with "ru" an auxiliary of continuing state.
Fourth line, "aki no katami o," means "autumn's keepsake." Whereas 214 at the end of Book Three called autumn's keepsake the frost on the hair cord, here the leaves left on the branch are autumn's keepsake.
Final line, "tatanu narikeri," plays on not cutting cloth and not severing, "tatsu" being an associated word for brocade. "Keri" expresses the exclamation of realization.
- Author
- Henjō
- Source
- Shui Wakashu
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Tatsutagawa momijiba nagaru kannabi no mimuro no yama ni shigure furu rashi
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Nagarekuru momijiba mireba karanishiki taki no ito mote oreru narikeri