Author unknown, "How deep was the dye of my longing" (Kokinshu #7)

by Frank Watson

Translation

How deep was the dye

Of my longing:

A flower appeared,

I went to pluck,

And found just lingering snow.

Commentary

There was a note that said the former Chancellor, Fujiwara no Yoshifusa, may have written the poem. The poem describes the narrator having gone through winter longing for the spring blossoms. So deep is his longing that he thinks he sees the flowers and begins to pluck them, but realizes it is just snow that has not melted from the branches. One could also read this as symbolizing a situation of unrequited love.

Japanese	Pronunciation

よみ人しらず	Yomihito shirazu

心ざし	Kokorozashi
ふかくそめてし	Fukaku someteshi
折りければ	Orikereba
きえあへぬ雪の	Kieaenu yuki no
花と見ゆらむ	Hana to miyuran