Though the hues of flowers
are veiled in haze
and cannot be seen,
at least their fragrance—steal it for me,
O spring mountain wind.
- Meaning
- Though the colors of the blossoms are hidden away in haze and cannot be seen, at least steal their fragrance for me, O spring mountain wind.
- Commentary
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Book II, Spring Poems (Part Two)
A poem composed on the theme of spring.
The mountains of spring are covered in haze, hiding the blossoms from view. As if the mountain itself begrudges revealing them, the poet asks that at least their fragrance be brought forth.
- Author
- Yoshimine no Munesada
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
- Other
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- In the wake of winds that have scattered cherry blossoms, there remains— waves rising and surging in a sky without water.
- Though it has become a former capital—Nara, and even in the new capital, their color unchanged, the blossoms bloom as ever.
- Flowering trees— no longer shall I dig and plant them; for when spring comes, people take after their ever-changing hues.
- Nowhere, I think, is there a village untouched by spring’s hue; yet some blossoms bloom, while others are not to be seen.