Original
さくらばなみかさのやまのかげしあればゆきとふるともぬれじとぞおもふ
| sakurabana mikasa no yama no kage shi areba yuki to furutomo nureji to zo omou | When cherry blossom Upon Mikasa mountain Shows its shape, Even should snow fall, I’ll not get damp, I feel![1] |
4
Left
このまよりはなのゆきのみちりくるはみかさのやまのもるにざるべき
| ko no ma yori hana no yuki nomi chirikuru wa mikasa no yama no morunizarubeki | Between the trees Simply a snow of blossom Comes a’falling— Mikasa mountain Will certainly be covered![2] |
5
Right (Win)
かすがのにゆきとふるてふはなみにぞみかさの山をさしてきにける
| kasugano ni yuki to furu chō hanami ni zo mikasa no yama o sashite kinikeri | Upon Kasuga Plain, Snow falls, they say— Indeed, when viewing blossom On Mikasa mountain, an umbrella Raise up as you come! |
6






[1] This is included in Shūishū (XVI: 1056) as an anonymous poem under the heading ‘Topic unknown’.
[2] This poem is included in Shinsenzaishū (II: 152), as an anonymous poem with the headnote: ‘Composed in reply to “When cherry blossom / Upon Mikasa mountain / Shows its shape, / Even should snow fall, / I’ll not get damp, I feel!”, which was among twenty-one poems by provincial officials, when the Kyōgoku Lady of the Bedchamber went to Kasuga.’