Nani to naku otsuru konoha mo fuku kaze ni chiriyuku kata wa shirare ya wa senu

なにとなく落つる木の葉も吹く風に
散りゆく方は知られやはせぬ

Roma-ji: Nani to naku otsuru konoha mo fuku kaze ni chiriyuku kata wa shirare ya wa senu
English Translation: Even the leaves
that fall for no reason at all—
in the blowing wind,
where they go to scatter
can it not be known at all?
Meaning: Even leaves that fall for no particular reason—can it not be known where the blowing wind will scatter them? Surely it can.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 1083

Headnote: "Reply"
This is Narimichi's reply to Saigyō's poem. Even leaves falling for no particular reason have a direction, set by the wind that scatters them, he answers; so the destination of your heart is known.
To Saigyō's question "where is it bound," he replies gently that as leaves follow the wind, Saigyō's heart is headed toward the Buddhist path, a quiet encouragement.

First line, “nani to naku”: for no particular reason.
Second line, “otsuru konoha mo”: even the falling leaves, answering "the leaves of the peaks" in the preceding poem.
Third line, “fuku kaze ni”: by the wind that blows.
Fourth line, “chiriyuku kata wa”: the direction in which they scatter, answering "izuchi" in the preceding poem.
Fifth line, “shirare ya wa senu”: ya wa is rhetorical, "can it not be known?" It surely can.
Author: Fujiwara no Narimichi
Source: Sankashu
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