秋来れば秋の気色も見えけるは
時ならぬ身と何にいふらん
時ならぬ身と何にいふらん
- Roma-ji
-
Aki kureba aki no keshiki mo miekeru wa toki naranu mi to nani ni iuran
- English Translation
-
When autumn arrives,
the look of autumn as well
shows itself in time;
why then should I call myself
one whose time has never come?
- Meaning
- When autumn comes, the look of autumn shows itself in due time. Why then should I call myself one whose time has never come?
- Commentary
-
Book Eighteen Miscellaneous Poems III 1185
Headnote: "Topic unknown"
When autumn comes, autumn's look appears as well; on what grounds do I call myself one out of season? he says. When the seasons turn, the scenery proper to the time appears, so why call oneself out of step with the times? In deliberately questioning his own ill fortune with a show of logic lies the humorous spirit.
The author, "Prince Sukehito," was the third son of Emperor Go-Sanjō. Though hoped for as heir to the throne, he never reigned; he was called the Third Prince and excelled in Chinese and Japanese verse.
It is the sixth of the humorous poems, and from here the series turns to autumn.
First line, "aki kureba": "when autumn comes."
Second line, "aki no keshiki mo": "keshiki" means look or air, repeating "aki" from the first line.
Third line, "miekeru wa": "keru" is the attributive of the past "keri," "though it showed itself," running on to what follows.
Fourth line, "toki naranu mi to": "toki naranu" means out of season, not favored by the times, describing one whose fortunes have failed.
Fifth line, "nani ni iuran": "on what grounds would one say so?" with "ran" the auxiliary of present conjecture.
- Author
- Prince Sukehito
- Source
- Senzai Wakashu
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