Oshinabete yama no shirayuki tsumoredomo shiruki wa Koshi no takane narikeri - Senzai Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

おしなべて山の白雪積もれども
しるきは越の高嶺なりけり

Roma-ji: Oshinabete yama no shirayuki tsumoredomo shiruki wa Koshi no takane narikeri
English Translation: Over all the hills
alike the white snow lies
heaped up everywhere,
yet the one that stands out clear
is the high peak of Koshi
Meaning: White snow lies alike on every mountain, yet the one that stands out clearly is the high peak of Koshi.
Commentary: Book Six Winter Poems 452

Headnote: "Composed as a poem on snow at the poetry contest held at the Kayanoin mansion of the Kyōgoku Former Grand Minister"
Composed on the topic of snow at the poetry contest held by Fujiwara no Morozane, the Kyōgoku Former Grand Minister, at his Kayanoin mansion. White snow lies alike on every mountain, the poet says, yet the one that stands out clearly is the high peak of Koshi. He praises the surpassing whiteness of snow on the mountains of Koshi, a province known as snow country.
The author, "Minister of Civil Affairs Michitoshi," is Fujiwara no Michitoshi, son of Fujiwara no Tsunehira, who rose to Provisional Middle Counselor and Minister of Civil Affairs. He compiled the Goshūi Wakashū at the command of Emperor Shirakawa.
The three poems from 452 to 454 are poems on snow from the poetry contest held by the Kyōgoku Former Grand Minister, Fujiwara no Morozane, at his Kayanoin mansion, known as the Kayanoin Seven-Round Poetry Contest. It was held in the eighth year of Kanji (1094).

First line, "oshinabete": "all alike, everywhere."
Second line, "yama no shirayuki": the white snow lying on every mountain.
Third line, "tsumoredomo": "domo" gives a concession, "though it lies heaped."
Fourth line, "shiruki wa Koshi no": "shirushi" means standing out plainly. "Koshi" is an old name for the Hokuriku region, sung of as snow country. 455, 459 and 469 of this book also sing of Koshi.
Fifth line, "takane narikeri": "keri" expresses realization, "it was the high peak of Koshi." The next poem, 453, also sings of a "takane."
Author: Fujiwara no Michitoshi
Source: Senzai Wakashu
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