#257 Kana Calligraphy on a Waka by Minamoto, Toshiyori
| Size: | approx. 33 × 24 cm |
|---|---|
| Format: | Framed |
About this Japanese Poetry
| Waka/Haiku: | Yamazakura, saki some shi yori, hisakata no, kumowi ni miyu ru, taki no shira ito |
|---|---|
| Poet: | Minamoto, Toshiyori |
| In: | before 1129 |
A humble reading of the poem:
As the mountain cherry blossoms begin to bloom, the distant hills appear like white threads of a waterfall falling from the sky.
Idle Thoughts
As the peak of cherry blossoms has passed,
the petals drift through the air like a cascading waterfall.
In contrast, the poem evokes wild mountain cherry trees covering the slopes in layered bloom. Seen from afar, their spreading white can resemble a waterfall as well—cherry blossoms have long been likened to flowing water in many forms.
On the paper, I placed small flowers quietly blooming at the foot of the tree, suggesting a view as if looking down from above.
Ink holds the seasons long after they have passed.
