Ōmiya no uchi ni mo to ni mo mezurashiku fureru ōyuki na fumisone oshi

大宮の内にも外にもめづらしく
降れる大雪な踏みそね惜し

Roma-ji: Ōmiya no uchi ni mo to ni mo mezurashiku fureru ōyuki na fumisone oshi
English Translation: In the great palace,
both within and out beyond,
fallen rare and deep,
the heavy snow lies so fine—
do not tread it, what a shame
Meaning: Within the palace and beyond, the heavy snow has fallen, so rare and lovely—please do not tread on it; it would be such a waste.
Commentary: Book Nineteen 4285

Headnote: "On the eleventh day a heavy snow fell and lay a foot and two inches deep. So I expressed my humble feelings in three poems"
The first of three poems composed on the eleventh day of the first month of 753, on seeing a heavy snowfall a foot and two inches deep, it asks that the rare snow lying both within and without the palace not be trodden on, for it would be a waste.
To Yakamochi, who had known four feet of snow in Etchū, a foot and two inches in the capital seemed rare and beautiful. The wish that the snow not be trodden echoes Mikata no Sami's poem in this book, 4228: "do not tread on the snow around this place."
The poet, Ōtomo no Yakamochi, was the son of the Grand Counselor Ōtomo no Tabito. Appointed Junior Counselor in 751, he returned from Etchū to the capital at Heijō-kyō, where he took part in court banquets as an official. He is thought to have played a central role in compiling the Man'yōshū.

First line, "ōmiya no" (of the great palace), depicts the snowy scene at court.
Second line, "uchi ni mo to ni mo" (both within and without), shows snow everywhere.
Third line, "mezurashiku" (so rarely), expresses how unusual heavy snow is in the capital.
Fourth line, "fureru ōyuki" (the heavy snow that has fallen).
Fifth line, "na fumisone oshi" (please do not tread on it—it would be a shame): "na ... sone" is a softened prohibition; the line is hypermetric.
Author: Otomo no Yakamochi
Source: Manyoshu
Prev Poem: Aratashiki toshi no hajime ni omou dochi imurete oreba ureshiku mo aru ka
Next Poem: Misonou no take no hayashi ni uguisu wa shiba nakinishi o yuki wa furitsutsu