as the passing year
draws each time to its close again
the snow falls ever more—
and so too does my own self
grow older with each passing year
- Meaning
- Each time the year comes to its end, the snow falls ever more—and I myself, too, grow older.
- Commentary
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Book Six Winter Poems
This poem was composed at the end of the year.
It plays on the words “to fall” (furu, for snow) and “to grow old” (furu). As the year draws to a close, the cold deepens and the snow falls more heavily, while with each passing year the poet too ages; both are expressed together in a single poem.
- Author
- Ariwara no Motokata
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
- Other
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- when the snow falls down on every tree flowers seem to bloom— upon each single one which of them is truly plum how could I discern and pluck
- though the year I do not wait has now come round at last again like winter withered grass— the one who has gone away sends not even a word of news
- when snow falls at last and the year comes to its close— only then we see the pine that never changes hue that never turns like autumn leaves
- saying “yesterday” and living through this day as well— like Asuka River ever flowing swift and on so pass the days and passing months