Though I think of you,
Yet I cannot part myself
Into two at once—
The piling, falling snow
Is truly my very heart.
- Meaning
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Though I care for you deeply, I cannot divide my body in two. The snow that keeps piling up and prevents me from leaving is truly the reflection of my heart that wishes to remain by your side.
- Commentary
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85. The Snow Keeps Piling Up
There was once a man whose lord, whom he had served since childhood, shaved his head and entered the religious life. The man now served at court, and so he could not visit often, but out of the loyalty he had long held he always came to pay his respects at the New Year.
Many people gathered there—those who had served him before he entered the religious life and those who had now become priests after taking vows. When the New Year’s formalities had been completed, wine was served. Snow fell heavily throughout the entire day.
The poem was composed while he was drunk on wine, taking as its theme that the snow had fallen so heavily that he could not go outside.
The lord was moved by the poem and removed one of his robes to give as a reward.
This episode may be connected with the episode “Binding the Grass Pillow.”
The poem expresses that the feelings of the man for his lord, who now lives deep in the mountains after entering the religious life, have piled up like the falling snow.
- Source
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Ise Monogatari
- Other
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