Inishie o kouru namida no iro ni nite tamoto ni chiru wa momiji narikeri

いにしへを恋ふる涙の色に似て
袂に散るは紅葉なりけり

Roma-ji: Inishie o kouru namida no iro ni nite tamoto ni chiru wa momiji narikeri
English Translation: Like the very hue
of the tears I shed in longing
for the days of old,
what is scattering on my sleeves
is the red of autumn leaves.
Meaning: Like the crimson of the tears I shed in longing for the past, what scatters on my sleeves is the red of autumn leaves.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 795

Headnote: "On the topic of longing for the past through autumn leaves, composed at Hōkongōin"
The topic is longing for the past through autumn leaves. Hōkongōin was the temple founded by Taikenmon'in, a place where Saigyō remembered her. Like the crimson of tears shed in longing for the past, what falls on my sleeves is autumn leaves, he says, laying the red of the leaves over the crimson tears said to be shed in deep grief.

First line, “inishie o”: the past, answering the longing for the past in the topic.
Second line, “kouru namida no”: of the tears shed in longing.
Third line, “iro ni nite”: like their color, since the tears of deep grief were said to turn crimson.
Fourth line, “tamoto ni chiru wa”: what falls on my sleeves, the falling leaves joined to the sleeves where tears fall.
Fifth line, “momiji narikeri”: narikeri marks realization, it is autumn leaves, answering the leaves of the topic.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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