Kumo no iru Yoshino no take ni furu yuki no tsumori tsumorite haru ni ainikeri

雲のゐる吉野の岳に降る雪の
積もり積もりて春に逢ひにけり

Roma-ji: Kumo no iru Yoshino no take ni furu yuki no tsumori tsumorite haru ni ainikeri
English Translation: Like the snow that falls
on the peaks of Yoshino
where the clouds abide,
piling and piling up,
at last it has met the spring.
Meaning: Like the snow falling on the cloud-wrapped peaks of Yoshino, piling and piling up until it meets the spring, my longing has gathered until at last I have met you.
Commentary: Love Poems 478

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Composed on the theme of love at famous places"
As the snow piled on the cloud-wrapped peaks of Yoshino at last meets the spring, so the poet's gathered longing is finally rewarded with a meeting. Amid laments of not meeting, it is a poem of joy.
Kamo no Mabuchi marked this poem with a circle.

Line 1 means "where the clouds rest."
Line 2 means "on the peaks of Yoshino" in Yamato.
Line 3 means "like the falling snow," and the first three lines form a preface leading to "piling up."
Line 4 means "piling and piling," overlaying accumulating snow and accumulating longing.
Line 5 means "it has met the spring," with an extra syllable; the exclamatory keri overlays snow meeting spring with love fulfilled. The hope of the preceding poem is here realized.
Author: Minamoto no Sanetomo
Source: Kinkaishu
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