Though distant lie
the springtime hills
veiled in rising haze,
the wind that comes to me
bears the scent of blossoms.

Meaning

Though the spring hills, shrouded in haze, lie far away and their blossoms cannot be seen, the wind that blows from them carries the scent of flowers.

Commentary

Book II, Spring Poems (Part Two)

A poem paired in a poetry contest at the imperial court during the Kanpyō era.

Though blossoms must be in full bloom on the distant spring hills, they cannot be seen through the haze. Yet the wind that blows from the mountains seems to carry their fragrance. In truth, such scent would not reach from afar, but the poet’s longing for the blossoms makes it feel so.

Author

Ariwara no Motokata

Source

Kokin Wakashu

Other

Though blossoms that bloom are of many kinds, all are but fleeting, who is there that can utterly resent the coming of spring?
Spring haze appears in many varied hues— it must be so, because the blossoms’ colors show through the veiled mountains.
Seeing the blossoms, even my heart has changed its hue; yet I shall not show it in my face, lest others come to know.
Each time the warbler sang in the fields, I went to see; upon the fading blossoms, the wind was blowing still.

Though distant lie the springtime hills veiled in rising haze, the wind that comes to me bears the scent of blossoms.

Though distant lie
the springtime hills
veiled in rising haze,
the wind that comes to me
bears the scent of blossoms.