Tatsutagawa shigarami kakete kannabi no mimuro no yama no momiji o zo miru - Kinyo Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

竜田川しがらみかけて神奈備の
三室の山の紅葉をぞ見る

Roma-ji: Tatsutagawa shigarami kakete kannabi no mimuro no yama no momiji o zo miru
English Translation: On Tatsuta River
I set a weir of branches,
and so it is the leaves
from sacred Mimuro's
mountain that I gaze upon
Meaning: Setting a weir across the Tatsuta River, I gaze upon the autumn leaves of sacred Mount Mimuro, caught there as they drift down.
Commentary: Book Four Winter Poems 266

Setting a weir across the Tatsuta River to catch the drifting leaves, the poet views through them the leaves of sacred Mount Mimuro. The wit lies in enjoying the mountain's colors without going there, through fallen leaves held back on the river.
Like poem 261 in this book, which watched the leaves in the Tatsuta River's current because mist hid the mountain, this poem views the mountain's leaves by way of the river, and its final line, 'the leaves I gaze upon', answers 'the current I gaze upon'. It also takes up 'Mount Mimuro' from poem 263. With this poem the early winter sequence on showers and leaves comes to an end.
From poem 257 through poem 266 in this book come poems on the sights of early winter, such as showers and colored leaves.
The author, Toshiyori, is Minamoto no Toshiyori. A son of Minamoto no Tsunenobu, he compiled this anthology, the Kin'yōwakashū, at the command of Retired Emperor Shirakawa, and is known for his innovative style.

First line, 'tatsutagawa', is a poetic place in Yamato famed for autumn leaves, the same river as in poem 261 in this book.
Second line, 'shigarami kakete', means setting a weir, a device to catch the leaves flowing down.
Third line, 'kannabi no', means where the gods dwell, a word attached to the mountain of Mimuro.
Fourth line, 'mimuro no yama no', is Mount Mimuro in Yamato, the same mountain as 'Mount Mimuro' in poem 263 in this book.
Final line, 'momiji o zo miru', means it is the leaves I gaze upon, zo binding with the attributive miru. It closes in the same form as 'it is the current I gaze upon' in poem 261.
Author: Minamoto no Toshiyori
Source: Kinyo Wakashu
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