[29] こころあ (Kokoroa)

 Poem Meaning and Background

Woodblock print from 'Bairei kiku hyakushu'
by Kono Bairei and Yoshibuna.

こころあてに・をらばやをらむ・はつしもの

kokoroate ni・orabaya oran・hatsushimo no

おきまどはせる・しらぎくのはな

oki madowaseru・shiragiku no hana

〜凡河内躬恒  (Ōshikōchi no Mitsune)

Translation

If it were my wish

To pick the white chrysanthemums,

Puzzled by the frost

Of the early autumn time,

I by chance might pluck the flower.

Meaning

This poem is considered a fall poem since the author is talking specifically about the first frost of the year, 初霜 (hatsushimo). The English translation of this poem says "early fall" but the Japanese explanation of the poem that I read places the time of the poem in "late" fall. 

The scene being expressed in this poem is that of a garden on a frosty autumn morning. With everything being covered in a pure white frost, the author is saying that it is hard to tell where the white petals of the chrysanthemum flowers end and the frost begins. Even if he wanted to pick a flower, he can't tell the flowers from the frost. This of course, is an exaggeration, but the idea that the frost could be laid so thick that it could even create illusory flowers is quite beautiful.

Author

Ōshikōchi no Mitsune (dates unknown) was an administrator during the early Heian period and is counted as one of the 36 Immortals of Poetry. He was considered to be one of the most preeminent waka poets of his time, along with Ki no Tsurayuki, author of poem [35] Hitowa. He also helped in the creation of the Kokin Wakashū, an imperial anthology of waka poems, commissioned by Emperor Uda, and published by Uda's son, Emperor Daigo.