how I regret it
the year that now is passing on—
in this polished mirror
even the reflected self
seems to fade into the dusk

Meaning

How regretful it is, the passing year—for even the image I see in the mirror seems to fade away.

Commentary

Book Six Winter Poems

This poem was composed when the poet was commanded to present a poem.

Here, “to fade” (kurenu) carries both the meaning of the year coming to its end and of the light dimming into darkness. As the reflected self in the mirror appears to grow older year by year, the poet laments the passing of time. Placed at the end of the winter poems, it also evokes a sense of overlapping between the end of the seasons and the end of life.

Author

Ki no Tsurayuki

Source

Kokin Wakashu

Other

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
may my lord endure for a thousand, eight thousand years— until pebbles small grow into mighty boulders and moss comes thick upon them
counting one by one the grains of sand upon the shore of the wide sea’s edge— let them be the numbered years of your long enduring life

how I regret it the year that now is passing on— in this polished mirror even the reflected self seems to fade into the dusk

how I regret it
the year that now is passing on—
in this polished mirror
even the reflected self
seems to fade into the dusk