Chrysanthemums by a lattice fence.

秋ふかききくの垣根の月影に霜かと露ぞきえかへりける

aki fukaki kiku no kakine no tsukikage ni shimo ka to tsuyu zo kiekarikeru

In the depths of autumn On the chrysanthemums by the brushwood fence In the moonlight, The dewdrops, almost as frost, Has vanished and returned again…[i]

29

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[i] An allusive variation on:

A poem composed at the poetry match held by Her Majesty, the Empress during the reign of the Kampyō emperor.

わが宿の菊のかきねにをく霜のきえかへりてぞ戀しかりける

wa ga yado no kiku no kakine ni oku shimo no kiekaerite zo koisikarikeru

At my house On chrysanthemums by the fence The frost settles only to Vanish and return again; Even so is my love.

Ki no Tomonori
Kokinshū XII: 564