Autumn Leaves And Haiku

Matsuo Basho:

この道や
行く人なしに
秋の暮れ

kono michi ya iku hito nashi ni aki no kure - this road/without people passing by/end of autumn

 

He says, in another poem, 秋の霜 aki no shimo - autumn frost.

秋 aki, autumn, comprises the character 火 hi, fire. That is because the fields of rice are traditionally burnt in autumn. Though I see in this character the fire of the colour of autumn leaves. Maple trees do seem to be on fire.

Momiji symbol on a bridge in Arima:

Acer Palmatum Atropurpureum is a Japanese maple with red leaves even in spring: