Kogarashi ni ko no ha no otsuru yamazato wa namida koso sae moroku narikere

木枯らしに木の葉の落つる山里は
涙こそさへもろくなりけれ

Roma-ji: Kogarashi ni ko no ha no otsuru yamazato wa namida koso sae moroku narikere
English Translation: In the mountain village
where the leaves fall to the ground
in the winter wind,
even my tears, it seems, have
grown so quick to spill and fall.
Meaning: In the mountain village where leaves fall before the winter wind, even my tears, like the leaves, have grown quick to fall.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 935

Headnote: "Topic unknown"
In the mountain village where leaves fall before the winter wind, not only the leaves but even tears grow quick to fall, the poet says, laying falling leaves over tears to convey the loneliness of winter in the mountains.
From here to 1041 at the end of the book, poems with topic unknown continue, singing of life in the mountain village, the moon, the sights of various places, and impermanence.

First line, “kogarashi ni”: in the cold, strong wind of late autumn and early winter.
Second line, “ko no ha no otsuru”: the leaves falling.
Third line, “yamazato wa”: in the mountain village.
Fourth line, “namida koso sae”: sae adds, even tears; koso is answered by kere in the fifth line.
Fifth line, “moroku narikere”: moroshi is quick to fall, applying both to the leaves and the tears.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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