When it is autumn, the gregariousness of a red small flower comes
to be outstanding in many places on the roadside of the countryside. The name
of this flower seems to be called a dyer's knotweed .
An indigo plant used in goods dyed deep blue is made from this dyer's
knotweed.
It was not till this age of 75 that I knew the fact.
The
flowers of the dyer's knotweed are now at their best, and this flower is the
prefectural symbolic flower of Tokushima where indigo dyeing is prosperous.
This is one haiku that Okayasu Meisi
composed on dyer's knotweed .
『Hi-bi
-ku-ro-ku na-ri-yu-ku- ai- wo ho-si-ni-ke-ri』『日々黒くなりゆく藍を干しにけり』
日々黒く getting black everyday
なりゆく藍を turn into dyer's knotweed
干しにけり to dry
: Words to mean directly