Toshi tsumoru Koshi no Shirayama shirazu tomo kashira no yuki o aware to wa miyo

年積もるこしの白山知らずとも
頭の雪をあはれとは見よ

Roma-ji: Toshi tsumoru Koshi no Shirayama shirazu tomo kashira no yuki o aware to wa miyo
English Translation: Years have piled up high—
though of Koshi's White Mountain
you may know nothing,
look upon the snow on my head
and take pity on it.
Meaning: Even if you know nothing of the White Mountain of Koshi, where the years pile up like snow, look upon the snow of my white hair and pity it.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 633

Headnote: "Snow at the shrine"
The poet calls on the god of Hakusan: even if one does not know the snowy White Mountain of Koshi, let him pity the snow of the poet's head, grown white with the years. The snow of the mountain and white hair are laid together in a plea to the god about growing old.
The base text carries a note that this poem resembles one by Akisuke in the Shinkokinshū.

Line 1 means "the years pile up," "pile" being a word associated with snow.
Line 2 names the White Mountain of Koshi, koshi meaning both the province and "passing" the years; the mountain, famed for snow, enshrines the god of Hakusan.
Line 3 means "even if you do not know," repeating the sound of Shirayama.
Line 4 means "the snow of my head," likening white hair to snow.
Line 5 means "look on it with pity," an imperative addressed to the god.
Author: Minamoto no Sanetomo
Source: Kinkaishu
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