Ever-green, ever-young. [MB575]

On the innkeeper's son:

Oh Autumn Wind, don't
blow away the peach tree leaves
of that boy of his !!

O Herfstwind, waai de
perzikeboombladeren
van dat joch niet weg !!


Translation/Vertaling: 白狐

[Matsuo-Bashô-575] [Autumn/Herfst, 1689.]
momó no kí no / sonó há chirásu nà / áki no kazé.


of-peach of-tree /
that/those/>here: that-boy's*
leaf/leaves
scatter/blow-away don't !! /
of-autumn wind**

* Jane Reichhold translated "sonó há" into "its leaves",
but it's short for "that boy's leaves" or "leaves of that boy of his" !!

** the Autumn Wind is warned/ordered in a rude way: "nà".
So, Jane, this is NOT meant as a blessing or a prayer:
Bashô irreverently gives the Autumn Wind an order, because
taking away the boy's youth would be an irreverent thing to do !!