Composed to accompany a painting of autumn leaves flowing along the Tatsuta River on a folding screen, when the Nijō Empress was known as the Mother of the Crown Prince.
もみぢばのながれてとまるみなとには紅深き浪や立つらむ
momidiba no
nagarete tomaru
minato ni Fa
kurenawi Fukaki
nami ya taturan
These autumn leaves
Flowing, will come to rest
At the harbourside: will
Deep scarlet
Waves break there, I wonder?
Composed at a time when the Nijō Empress was still known as the Mother of the Crown Prince, on the topic of a picture of autumn leaves flowing along the Tatsuta River, drawn on a folding screen.
ちはやぶる神世もきかず龍田河唐紅に水くくるとは
tiFayaburu
kamiyo mo kikazu
tatutagaFa
karakurenai ni
midu kukuru to Fa
In even the mighty
Gods’ own age there’s no word of it:
The River Tatsuta,
With deep scarlet
Dyed throughout the waters.