Composed on the flood of autumn leaves, when crossing the Tatsuta River when passing through the Kaminabi Mountains.
神なびの山をすぎ行く秋なればたつた河にぞぬさはたむくる
| kaminabi no yama wo sugiyuku aki nareba tatuta gaFa ni zo nusa Fa tamukuru |
Through the Kaminabi Mountains passes Autumn, so On the river Tatsuta Is a garland proffered. |
Kiyowara no Fukayabu
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? |
Sosei
素性法師
Topic unknown.
たつた河もみぢば流る神なびのみむろの山に時雨ふるらし
| tatutagaFa momidiba nagaru kamunabi no mimuro no yama ni sigure fururasi |
Along the river Tatsuta Flow scarlet leaves; Upon the divine Mountain dwellings of the gods A gentle rain looks to be falling. |
Anonymous
Alternatively ‘scarlet leaves on the Asuka River.’
Topic unknown.
龍田河もみぢみだれて流るめりわたらば錦なかやたえなむ
| tatutagaFa momidi midarete nagarumeri wataraba nisiki naka ya taenamu |
Along the Tatsuta River The scarlet leaves in such confusion Drift, that Were I to ford across, this brocade Would be split in two, I’d say… |
Anonymous
It is said by some that this poem was composed by the Nara Emperor.
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. |
Ariwara no Narihira
在原業平