Matsu to iedo chitose no aki ni aikureba shinobi ni otsuru shitaba narikeri - Shui Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

松といへど千歳の秋にあひ来れば
しのびに落つる下葉なりけり

Roma-ji: Matsu to iedo chitose no aki ni aikureba shinobi ni otsuru shitaba narikeri
English Translation: Though it is a pine,
having met a thousand years
of autumns till now,
these are lower leaves that fall
quietly, unseen by all.
Meaning: Though it is a pine, it has met a thousand autumns, and so these are lower leaves that fall quietly, unnoticed.
Commentary: Book Nine Miscellaneous Poems II 517

Headnote: "In answer"
The poet answers that even the evergreen pine, having passed through a thousand autumns, has lower leaves that fall quietly and unseen. Responding to Korehira's question in the preceding poem, 516, he reasons that the pine too changes color when it meets autumn. Within the long span of a thousand years, his answer gazes at the quiet change that comes even to what does not change.
The author, written as "Mitsune," is Ōshikōchi no Mitsune. One of the compilers of the Kokinshū, he is counted among the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets.

First line, "matsu to iedo," means "though it is a pine," with the concessive "do," assuming the evergreen nature of the pine.
Second line, "chitose no aki ni," means "a thousand autumns," taking up the first line of the preceding poem, 516, "chitose furu."
Third line, "aikureba," means "having met them," with "ba" after the perfective form expressing cause.
Fourth line, "shinobi ni otsuru," means "that fall quietly, unseen."
Final line, "shitaba narikeri," means "are lower leaves," with "keri" expressing a sigh of realization. Through the word "shitaba," carried on from the fourth line of the earlier question, 513, "hagi no shitaba no," it closes the exchange on the pine.
Author: Oshikochi no Mitsune
Source: Shui Wakashu
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