in mountain villages
where white snow has fallen deep
and lies heaped upon—
even those who dwell there now
may feel their thoughts fade away

Meaning

In mountain villages where white snow has fallen deep, even those who dwell there may feel their very thoughts fade away like the snow.

Commentary

Book Six Winter Poems

This poem uses the associated word “to vanish” (kiyu) linked with snow, and “omoi kiyu” conveys a sinking or fading of the spirit.

Life in a mountain village would have been harsh, with simple dwellings offering little protection from the cold. The severity of winter is thus felt more deeply than in modern times, and the poem suggests that even the hearts of those who live there seem to fade away under the weight of snow.

Author

Mibu no Tadamine

Source

Kokin Wakashu

Other

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
snow falling deep on a road where no one comes or passes at all— is it for that very reason that even my thoughts fade away
though it is winter from the sky flowers scatter down— is it that beyond those clouds, far out of sight, spring has already come to be

in mountain villages where white snow has fallen deep and lies heaped upon— even those who dwell there now may feel their thoughts fade away

in mountain villages
where white snow has fallen deep
and lies heaped upon—
even those who dwell there now
may feel their thoughts fade away