桐きり一ひと葉は

noun

falling paulownia leaf; sign of autumn

A single paulownia leaf falling is a traditional poetic image that signals the beginning of autumn. Often used in classical literature and haiku.

• 桐きり一ひと葉は落おちて天てん下かの秋あきを知しる。

  A single paulownia leaf falls, and one knows the autumn of the world.

• 庭にわに桐きり一ひと葉はが舞まい落おちるのを見みて、秋あきの訪おとずれを感かんじた。

  Seeing a paulownia leaf flutter down in the garden, I felt the arrival of autumn.