on fair Yoshino
the mountain snow must be piled—
for in the old capital
the cold grows ever deeper
more than it was before

Meaning

On Mount Yoshino the snow must be piling up—for even here in the old capital the cold has grown ever more severe.

Commentary

Book Six Winter Poems

This poem was composed while staying in the capital of Nara.

Since even in the capital the cold has deepened so greatly, the poet imagines that in the mountains snow must be falling and accumulating. The poem expresses a simple and direct feeling, faithfully reflecting the poet’s immediate experience.

Here, “furusato” refers to the ancient capital of Nara.

Author

Sakanoue no Koreyuki

Source

Kokin Wakashu

Other

when the snow falls down the grasses and hidden things that lie through winter— bear blossoms never seen in the coming days of springtime
white snow falling down without choosing where it lies— covering all alike even upon the rocky crags it seems that flowers bloom there
near the seashore the falling snow drifts down— and it appears as though white waves might overpass now Sue no Matsuyama
on fair Yoshino through the mountain’s deep white snow he made his way in— yet from that man who entered no word has come at all

on fair Yoshino the mountain snow must be piled— for in the old capital the cold grows ever deeper more than it was before

on fair Yoshino
the mountain snow must be piled—
for in the old capital
the cold grows ever deeper
more than it was before