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HE spring has come, and once again The sun shines in the sky; So gently smile the heavens, that It almost makes me cry, When blossoms droop and die.

Tomonori Kino was the grandson of Uchisukune Take, a famous warrior, and nephew of Tsura-yuki, who composed verse No. 35; he was one of the compilers of the Kokinshiu, and died at the beginning of the tenth century. He refers in this verse to the fall of the cherry blossoms.

Hisakata is a ‘pillow-word’ for heaven, without any definite meaning in the present day; it is generally used in poetry in conjunction with such words as sun, moon, sky, or, as in this case, ‘the light’ (of heaven).

The picture shows the poet with his attendant, watching the petals falling from the cherry tree.