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
- Meaning
- Because snow has fallen and no one passes along this road, even my thoughts seem to fade away.
- Commentary
-
Book Six Winter Poems
This poem was composed upon seeing snow fallen deep.
It uses the associated word “to vanish” (kiyu), linked with snow.
The loneliness felt in the cold snow must sink all the more deeply into the heart, and one can sympathize with the poet’s sinking mood.
- Author
- Oshikochi no Mitsune
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
- Other
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- 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
- 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
- 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 winter’s seclusion never had I thought such a sight— through these trees before me as though they were blossoms snow falls down in full display