Composed on fallen blossom.
花さそふあらしの庭の雪ならでふりゆく物は我が身なりけり
| hana sasou arashi no niwa no yuki narade furiyuku mono wa wagami narikeri | Enticing the blossom, The storm wind to my garden Brings not the snow, instead Fallen into age is My sorry self. |
The Lay Priest and Former Palace Minister
Composed on blossom fallen on the water.
はなさそふあらしやみねをわたるらんさくらなみよるたにがはのみづ
| Fana sasoFu arasi ya mine wo wataruran sakuranami yoru tanigaFa no midu | Enticing the blossom Is it the storm wind upon the peak That passes o’er The cherry waves breaking In the waters of a valley stream? |
Lord Minamoto no Masakane
Composed as a poem on blossom.
花もまたわかれん春はおもひ出でよさきちるたびの心づくしを
| hana mo mata wakaren haru wa omoi’ideyo saki chiru tabi no kokorozukushi o | O, blossom, will you, too, When we are parted by spring’s end Remember me! For when you bloom and scatter How desolate I am… |
Inpumon’in no Taiyu
Composed on a day during the reign of former Emperor Horikawa when the ladies of the court went to visit the blossom in the Eastern hills.
たちかへりまたやとはまし山かぜに花ちる里の人のこころを
| tachikaeri mata ya towamashi yamakaze ni hana chiru sato no hito no kokoro o | Rising and returning Only to once more pay a curious call: The breeze from off the mountains Scattering blossom round the estate Where lies my lady’s heart… |
Supernumerary Middle Counsellor Morotoki
Composed on seeing cherry blossom unexpectedly at Ōmine.
もろともにあはれとおもへ山ざくらはなよりほかにしる人もなし
| morotomo ni aFare to omoFe yamazakura Fana yori Foka ni siru Fito mo nasi | Won’t you as well Feel kind, O, mountain cherry? For other than your blossom, I have no acquaintances here at all… |
Archbishop Gyōson
Sent to Lord Michinobu, attached to a branch of cherry blossom, in spring, Shōryaku 2 [991], when in mourning for the emperor.
すみぞめのころもうき世の花ざかりをりわすれてもをりてけるかな
| sumizome no koromo uki yo no hanazakari ori wasurete mo oritekeru kana | All are in ink-dyed Clothes, yet in this cruel world Blossom blooms most freely; Forgetful of the time, Did I pluck these. |
Lord Fujiwara no Sanekata
On the conception of blossom having a pleasing hue, when various people were in attendance on His Majesty, during the reign of former emperor Nijō.
君が代にあへるはたれもうれしきを花はいろにもいでにけるかな
| kimi ga yo ni aeru wa tare mo ureshiki o hana wa iro ni mo idenikeru kana | My Lord’s reign Has everyone greeted With joy, and The blossom in such hues Has appeared! |
Minister of Justice Norikane
Gazing at the blossom, on a night when the moon was particularly charming.
あたら夜の月と花とをおなじくはあはれしれらむ人にみせばや
| atarayo no tuki to Fana to wo onaziku Fa aFare sireramu Fito ni miseba ya | This fresh night’s Moon and blossom, too, Are both same: If only to one whose feelings are profound I could show them… |
Minamoto no Sane’akira
Composed on spending spring accompanied by nothing but blossom.
ちらぬ間は花をともにて過ぎぬべし春よりのちのしる人もがな
| tiranu ma Fa Fana wo tomo nite suginubesi Faru yori noti no siru Fito mogana | While still unscattered The blossom is my only friend, and When ‘tis past And spring is gone, then Would I have folk to know! |
The Hanazono Minister of the Left
Composed on the conception of visiting distant blossom in the mountains, on a day when he was due to return after paying a visit to the residence of the regent.
たづねつる花のあたりになりにけりにほふにしるしはるの山かぜ
| tazuneturu Fana no atari ni narinikeri nioFu ni sirusi Fa Faru no yamakaze | I have paid a visit to A place of blossom Here; Of their scent a sign is carried On the spring mountain breezes. |
Former Emperor Sutoku
