むらさきのねさへいろこき草なれやあきのことごとのべをそむらむ

murasaki no ne sae irokoki kusa nare ya aki no kotogoto nobe o somuramu

Do even the gromwell’s Roots take on deeper hues Among the grasses, For in autumn every Meadow does seem dyed?

39

秋のよにひとを見まくのほしければあまのかはらをたちもならすか[1]

aki no yo ni hito o mimaku no hoshikereba ama no kawara o tachi mo narasu ka

On an autumn night To see him is All my longing, so On the banks of Heaven’s river Should I be wont to stand?

40

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[1] A minor variant of this poem occurs in Mandaishū (1801) and Shokugoshūishū (688): 秋の夜に人をみまくのほしければ天の川原を立ちならすかな aki no yo ni / hito o mimaku no / hoshikereba / ama no kawara o / tachinarasu kana ‘On an autumn night / To see him is / All my longing, so / On the banks of Heaven’s river / Is where I ever stand!’ (Anonymous).