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

Meaning

Though it is winter, flowers seem to fall from the sky—perhaps beyond the clouds it has already become spring.

Commentary

Book Six Winter Poems

This poem was composed on seeing falling snow.

The image of snow likened to flowers has been used since the Man’yōshū; the poet must have felt in the falling snow the beauty of blossoms scattering. Since it says, “beyond the clouds, might it be spring,” one may also take it that, longing for spring, the poet mistakes the snow for flowers, giving the poem a light, almost playful tone.

The poet, Kiyohara no Fukayabu, is one of the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets, and is also known as the great-grandfather of Sei Shōnagon, author of The Pillow Book.

Author

Fukayabu

Source

Kokin Wakashu

Other

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
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
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
at break of morning as though it were the lingering moon of the dawn-lit sky— in Yoshino village falls a deep white snow all around

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

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