Alone For You Autumn Poem by Ki no Tsurayuki

- waka composed and presented by Ki no Tsurayuki at the maidenflower [poetry] competition at the Suzaku Palace [see below] -

The Suzakuin ominaeshi awase 朱雀院女郎花合 (‘Maidenflower Contest Held at the Suzaku Palace’) was a poetry contest held in 898, when members of the court had to submit poems on maidenflowers to be judged.

たが秋にあらぬものゆゑをみなへしなぞ色にいでてまだきうつろふ ta ga aki ni aranu mono yuFe wominaFesi nazo iro ni idete madaki uturoFu Alone for you Autumn Has not come, Maidenflowers, So why do you colour So swiftly, then fade? Tsurayuki - 貫之 Kokinshū - KKS IV: 232