With deep intent
I stained my heart at that time;
so it may be seen
as flowers of snow
that could not fade away.

Meaning

Because I set my heart so deeply upon them when I broke off the branch, the snow that could not quite melt away may be seen as flowers.

Commentary

Spring Songs, Book One.

There is also a reading that takes "orikereba" as "orikereba" meaning "as I sat," in which case it means that I waited with deep feeling, wondering whether they would bloom.

"Kokorozashi" means one’s affection for the flowers.

The commentary attributes this poem to Fujiwara no Yoshifusa, Grand Minister of State.

Author

Unknown Poet

Source

Kokin Wakashu

Other

In anguish falls this rain that pours and pours— Miwa’s cape; at Sano’s crossing there is not even a house at all.
When spring has come, will it be seen as flowers? On white snow clinging to the branches, the bush warbler cries.
Though I stand here in the light of spring’s own sun, still upon my head the snow falls down, and this is wretched to me.
When haze arises, and buds on the trees are spring, if the snow should fall, even this village with no flowers has flowers falling down.

With deep intent I stained my heart at that time; so it may be seen as flowers of snow that could not fade away.

With deep intent
I stained my heart at that time;
so it may be seen
as flowers of snow
that could not fade away.