Dear friends,
Although there had been a few extremely cold days in New York, it’s been relatively warm this year, and it feels like spring is just around the corner. However, I'm not sure that's actually the case.
Recently, I received a photo of Japanese plum blossoms that heralds the arrival of spring.
Plum blossoms (Ume)
Blooming quietly in the cold air, plum blossoms are not as gorgeous as cherry blossoms, but they have been loved by people for their sweet scent since ancient times. They appear in many waka poems as a symbol of spring.
One of my favorite and most famous waka poems about ume blossoms goes like this:
As the human heart’s so fickle
your feelings may have changed,
but at least in my old home
the plum blossoms bloom as always
with a fragrance of the past.
- Ki no Tsurayuki
「人はいさ心も知らずふるさとは
花ぞ昔の香ににほひける」
紀貫之
This poem expresses the contrast between the changeable human mind and the unchanging fragrance of flowers.
Whenever I see plum blossoms, I am reminded of this poem, and I feel as though the sweet scent of plum blossoms has remained unchanged for more than 1000 years, even as the times have changed. It makes me feel as if I have traveled back to the Heian period (794 to 1185) when the poem was written. While cherry blossoms are indeed beautiful, plum blossoms are also very attractive spring flowers.
The wagashi with the waka poem by Kanou Shoujuan ( 叶匠壽庵 あも歌留多）
By the way, translating a waka poem into English is not easy. As a native Japanese speaker, I can't fully understand a poem that was written over 1000 years ago without knowledge of classical Japanese. I am always afraid of missing hidden meanings. The translation above was done by Peter MacMillan, an Irish scholar who specializes in Japanese literature, and has won awards for his translations. I wonder if he also loves plum blossoms. I hope that spring will arrive in New York very soon.
All the best,
Kumiko