Composed and sent to someone when he was suffering with sickness one autumn and feeling particularly downhearted.

もみぢばをかぜにまかせてみるよりもはかなき物はいのちなりけり

momidiba wo kaze ni makasete miru yori mo Fakanaki mono Fa inoti narikeri

The scarlet leaves To the winds entrust their fate; Seeing them how much Briefer a thing Is life.

Ōe no Chisato