心あてに折らばや折らむ初霜の
置きまどはせる白菊の花
置きまどはせる白菊の花
- Roma-ji
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Kokoroate ni oraba ya oramu hatsushimo no
okimadowaseru shiragiku no hana - English Translation
-
if I must pluck them,
then at random I shall pluck—
first frost has fallen,
confusing all before my eyes,
white chrysanthemums alike
- Meaning
- If I am to pluck them, I shall do so at random—the first frost has fallen and made it impossible to tell which are the white chrysanthemums.
- Commentary
-
Book Five Autumn Poems (Part Two)
A poem on white chrysanthemums.
Because the first frost has fallen and turned everything white, the poet says that it has become impossible to distinguish the white chrysanthemums from their surroundings.
In reality, frost alone would not make the flowers indistinguishable, so the expression may be somewhat exaggerated. It likely serves to emphasize the beauty of the frost-covered scene.
This poem is also included in the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu.
“Kokoroate” means guessing at random.
“Madōwaseru” means to confuse or make indistinguishable.
- Author
- Oshikochi no Mitsune
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
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