Nami ni shiku momiji no iro o arau yue ni nishiki no shima to iu ni ya aruran

波に敷く紅葉の色を洗ふゆゑに
錦の島と言ふにやあるらん

Roma-ji: Nami ni shiku momiji no iro o arau yue ni nishiki no shima to iu ni ya aruran
English Translation: Because the waves wash
the color of autumn leaves
spread upon the sea,
is that why it's called, I wonder,
the island of brocade?
Meaning: Is it because the waves wash the color of the autumn leaves spread upon them that this is called the Island of Brocade?
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 1441

Headnote: "At the Island of Brocade on the coastal road of Ise, seeing the autumn leaves of the winding shore scattered"
At the Island of Brocade on the Ise coast, seeing the leaves of the winding shore scattered, Saigyō composed this. Is it because the waves wash the color of the leaves strewn on them that it is called the Island of Brocade?
A witty poem tracing the island's name, "brocade," to the leaves washed by waves. It seems also to draw on the idea that washing brocade in water brightens its colors, and it shares the conceit of 1194 in this book, which traced the name of Iro no Hama.

First line, “nami ni shiku”: spread upon the waves.
Second line, “momiji no iro o”: the color of the leaves.
Third line, “arau yue ni”: because they wash it; the line has an extra syllable.
Fourth line, “nishiki no shima to”: as the Island of Brocade.
Fifth line, “iu ni ya aruran”: ya questions, answered by ran, "is that why it is called so?"
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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