Natorigawa kishi no momiji no utsuru kage wa onaji nishiki o soko ni sae shiku

名取川岸の紅葉の映る影は
同じ錦を底にさへ敷く

Roma-ji: Natorigawa kishi no momiji no utsuru kage wa onaji nishiki o soko ni sae shiku
English Translation: Natori River—
the reflection of the leaves
upon its banks
spreads the selfsame brocade
even on the riverbed.
Meaning: The reflection of the autumn leaves on the banks of the Natori River spreads the same brocade even across the riverbed.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 1130

Headnote: "Crossing the Natori River, seeing the reflection of the autumn leaves on its banks"
Composed while crossing the Natori River in Michinoku, on seeing the leaves of the banks reflected in the water. The reflected leaves spread the same brocade as the banks even across the riverbed.
Using the traditional image of autumn leaves as brocade, the poem sees the reflection as brocade spread on the river bottom. Following the leaf brocade of the Omowaku Bridge in the preceding poem, scenes of northern autumn leaves continue. The Natori River, its name suggesting "gaining a name," was a poetic place sung in love poems of rumor, but here it is sung as a real scene.

First line, “Natorigawa”: a river in Michinoku, a poetic place.
Second line, “kishi no momiji no”: of the autumn leaves on the bank.
Third line, “utsuru kage wa”: the reflection on the water; the line has an extra syllable.
Fourth line, “onaji nishiki o”: the same brocade as on the banks.
Fifth line, “soko ni sae shiku”: sae adds, "spreads it even on the bottom."
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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