Practise the thinking. Keep the judgement.
花さそふ
Fujiwara no Kintsune · 入道前太政大臣
花さそふ
あらしの庭の
雪ならで
ふりゆくものは
我が身なりけり
Historical kana
はなさそふ
あらしのにはの
ゆきならで
ふりゆくものは
わがみなりけり
Original English translation
The storm lures blossoms through the garden like snow; what truly grows old is my own body.
History and context
Kintsune, also known through the Saionji family name, was a powerful court statesman. His Shinchokusenshū poem turns a spring scene into reflection on his own ageing.
Imagery and wordplay
Furu can suggest falling and growing old. Apparent snow is blossom, but the passing years are real.
Shinchokusenshū · 新勅撰集雑一1052
Japanese text and historical kana follow the linked Wikisource transcription. Classical poems can have variant spellings and wording in different anthologies. The source anthology reference identifies the version represented in this collection, not necessarily its earliest surviving text. English prose translations and reading notes are original interpretations; some wordplay permits more than one reading.