On the day when the following day would mark the beginning of spring, he saw the snow being blown by the wind from the house next door, so he composed this and sent it over.
冬ながら春の隣のちかければなかがきよりぞ花はちりける
Fuyu nagara Faru no tonari no tikakereba nakagaki yori zo Fana wa tirikeru
‘Tis winter, yet Spring as a neighbour Lies so close, so From the fence between Blossom has scattered.