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.

Meaning

Though I stand in the light of the spring sun, it is wretched to me that snow should fall upon my head and turn my hair white.

Commentary

Spring Songs, Book One.

When the Empress Nijō was still known as the Crown Prince’s Consort, on the third day of the New Year she summoned me before her and spoke to me; though the sun was shining, snow fell upon my head, and this scene was made into a poem.

It entrusts the wretchedness of old age to the circumstances in which one was summoned and composed.

"Snow upon the head" is an expression that likens the snow fallen on the head to white hair.

Author

Funya no Yasuhide

Source

Kokin Wakashu

Other

When spring has come, will it be seen as flowers? On white snow clinging to the branches, the bush warbler cries.
With deep intent I stained my heart at that time; so it may be seen as flowers of snow that could not fade away.
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.
Is it spring, I ask, or are the flowers too slow to come? I would know by hearing— yet even the bush warbler does not sing at all.

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.

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.