in the vast open sky
the moonlight falls so pure—
that the water below
which held its shining image
was the first of all to freeze

Meaning

Because the moonlight in the vast sky shines so purely, the water that held its reflection was the first to freeze.

Commentary

Book Six Winter Poems

In the cold air of winter, the moon appears clearer and its light more intense. The poem imagines that the water, reflecting that brilliant light, is frozen by it, as though the moon itself had brought the chill.

This is a poetic expression that attributes the freezing of water to the purity and sharpness of the moonlight.

Author

Unknown Poet

Source

Kokin Wakashu

Other

the Tatsuta River weaves and spreads brocade— in the godless month with showers of passing rain as warp and weft entwined
in a mountain village winter deepens the loneliness— for when I think on it no people come, and even the grasses wither away
as evening falls on my sleeves grow cold with the chill— in fair Yoshino upon the mountain slopes snow must be falling now
from this moment on may it go on falling still— in my humble yard pressing down the silver grass the white snow that has begun

in the vast open sky the moonlight falls so pure— that the water below which held its shining image was the first of all to freeze

in the vast open sky
the moonlight falls so pure—
that the water below
which held its shining image
was the first of all to freeze