Practise the thinking. Keep the judgement.
ちはやぶる
Ariwara no Narihira · 在原業平朝臣
ちはやぶる
神代も聞かず
龍田川
から紅に
水くくるとは
Historical kana
ちはやぶる
かみよもきかず
たつたがは
からくれなゐに
みづくくるとは
Original English translation
Not even in the age of mighty gods was such a thing heard: the Tatsuta River binding its waters in deep crimson.
History and context
Narihira’s poem belongs to the Kokinshū tradition of poems composed for painted scenes. Tatsuta became a celebrated poetic place for autumn foliage; the scene need not be a travel diary.
Imagery and wordplay
Leaves turn water into crimson patterned cloth. The extravagant opening presents seasonal beauty as a marvel.
Kokinshū · 古今集秋下294
Japanese text and historical kana follow the linked Wikisource transcription. Classical poems can have variant spellings and wording in different anthologies. The source anthology reference identifies the version represented in this collection, not necessarily its earliest surviving text. English prose translations and reading notes are original interpretations; some wordplay permits more than one reading.