Only from afar
had I felt their deep beauty—
these plum blossoms;
their color I never tire of
I knew only when I broke them off.
- Meaning
- I had felt the deep beauty of the plum blossoms only from afar; the color I never tire of I truly knew only when I broke them off.
- Commentary
-
Spring Songs, Book One
The poet delights in the color and fragrance of the plum blossoms, but from the expression of the latter lines, the image of a woman comes to mind.
It sings of the feeling that only by forming an intimate bond can one truly know how wonderful it is.
- Author
- Sosei Hoshi
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
- Other
-
- Near my dwelling, I would not plant plum blossoms— how pointless that would be; for their scent is mistaken for the sleeves of one I await.
- The plum blossoms said to be sewn on the warbler’s hat— I will break them off and set them in my hair, thinking they may hide my age.
- To whom but you should I show these plum blossoms— their color and scent; one who knows both the color and scent is the one who knows them.
- In spring, when plum blossoms give forth their scent, Mount Kurabu— though I crossed it in the dark of night, clearly, there they were, I knew.