Composed on the topic of lingering snow for a poetry match held by Her Majesty, the Empress during the reign of the Goreizei emperor:
はなならでをらまほしきはなにはえのあしのわかばにふれるしらゆき
| Fana narade woramahosiki Fa naniFae no asi no wakaba ni Fureru shirayuki | Though they are not blossoms How I long to pick At Naniwa Inlet From the new-grown reed tips Fallen snowflakes. |
Lord Fujiwara no Norinaga
Original
ちりまがふかすがのやまのさくらばなひかりにきえぬゆきと見えつつ
| chirimagau kasuga no yama no sakurabana hikari ni kienu yuki to mietsutsu | Tangledly scattering on The mount of Kasuga are The cherry blossoms—as Not fading with the sunlight Does this snow, it ever seems… |
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Left
さくらばななにかはきえむしろたへのいろばかりこそゆきににるらめ
| sakurabana nanika wa kienu shirotae no iro bakari koso yuki ni niruramu | Cherry blossoms— Why should they fade away? White as mulberry cloth, In their hue alone Do they resemble snow, I’d say! |
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Right (Win)
やまざくらゆきにまがひてちりくれどきえぬばかりぞしるしなりける
| yamazakura yuki ni magaite chirikuredo kienu bakari zo shirushi narikeru | Mountain cherry blossoms Tangle with the snowflakes, and Come a’scattering, yet ‘Tis only that they fade not that’s The sign of what they are! |
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