before it melts away
fall yet again, pile ever deep—
O drifting spring haze,
if once you rise into the sky
such snow will seldom meet my eyes
- Meaning
- Before it melts away, fall again and pile ever deeper—for once the spring haze rises, snow will be rarely seen.
- Commentary
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Book Six Winter Poems
Since snow can no longer be seen when spring comes, the poet expresses a wish for it to fall even more, delighting in its beauty. Apart from the longing for spring, one can sympathize with the feeling of wanting to keep gazing at the beautiful white snow, even in the cold.
- Author
- Unknown Poet
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
- Other
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- 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
- plum blossoms or not they cannot be told apart now— from the distant sky thick-clouding snow falls everywhere covering all in equal white
- though the hue of flowers blends with snow and cannot be seen still let their fragrance drift and softly make them known so that people may perceive