Takasago no onoe no matsu ni furu yuki no furite ikuyo no toshi ka tsumoreru

高砂の尾上の松に降る雪の
ふりて幾世の年か積もれる

Roma-ji: Takasago no onoe no matsu ni furu yuki no furite ikuyo no toshi ka tsumoreru
English Translation: On Takasago's peak
on the pine trees falls the snow,
and like it, growing old,
how many ages' worth of years
have piled up on them?
Meaning: Like the snow falling on the pines atop the peak of Takasago, they have grown old—how many ages of years have piled up on them?
Commentary: Winter Poems 379

Headnote: "Snow among the pines"
This poem was composed on the theme of snow among the pines. As snow falls and piles on the pines of Takasago's peak, the poet wonders how many ages of years the old pines have gathered. Overlaying furu, "to fall," with furu, "to grow old," and the piling of snow with the piling of years, he contemplates the long life of the pines.
The Ruijū text places this poem in the miscellaneous section. Takasago is a poetic place known for its pines.

Line 1 names Takasago in Harima, a poetic place famous for pines.
Line 2 means "on the pines atop the peak."
Line 3 means "like the snow that falls," and the lines up to here form a preface leading to furite in line 4.
Line 4: furite is a pivot word meaning both the snow "falling" and "growing old."
Line 5 concludes ka with ru, the attributive of the continuative ri, asking how many years have piled up. The piling of snow and the piling of years overlap.
Author: Minamoto no Sanetomo
Source: Kinkaishu
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