Pinks

ゆかしくば行きてもみませゆきしまの岩ほにおふる撫子の花

yukashikuba yukitemo mimase yukishima no iwao ni ouru nadeshiko no hana

If you find them charming, then You should go and see While snow lies heavy on the garden’s Rock where grow The pinks in bloom.[i]

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[i] An allusive variation on: A poem by Kamō, the dancing girl. 雪嶋　巌尓殖有　奈泥之故波　千世尓開奴可　君之挿頭尓 yuki no shima / iwao ni uetaru / nadeshiko wa / chiyo ni sakanu ka / kimi ga Kazashi ni ‘Snow lies heavy on the garden’s / Rocks where grow / The pinks: / o. won’t you bloom a thousand years? / That my Lord may wear you in his hair…’ (MYS XIX: 4232).