Fading Leaves & Autumn Dusk

Fading leaves

 

薄紅葉
Usu momiji

 

Usumomiji describes the maple leaves as they just start to take on their Autumn colour, when they are pale reflections of the brilliant colours to come.

 

Plop! a maple leaf -

Pale shades of autumn seep through

My block of tofu

- Basho

 

Irozuku ya 

Tofu ni ochite 

Usu momiji  

- Basho

 

Image: @petoryu

 

Autumn dusk

 

秋の暮
Aki no kure

 

(Aki = autumn, Kure = dusk.)

This mei is used when the unmistakable feel of　autumn seeps into days’ end.

 

On a withered branch

A lonesome crow has settled

Lo! the autumn dusk 

- Basho

 

Kare eda ni

Tori no tomari keri

Aki no kure

- Basho

Image: @petoryu