Composed as a poem on blossom.
散る花を身にかふ計おもへども叶はで年の老いにける哉
| tiru Fana wo mi ni kaFu bakari omoFedomo kanaFade tosi no oinikeru kana |
The scattering blossom For myself to exchange, is my only Thought, but It does nothing and with every year I grow a little older! |
The Monk Dōin
Composed as a poem on blossom.
おしなべて花の盛になりにけり山の端ごとにかゝる白雲
| osinabete Fana no sakari ni narinikeri yama no Fa goto ni kakaru sira kumo |
’Tis all the same- Blossoms in profusion Everywhere; And on every mountain’s edge White clouds hang. |
The Monk En’i
Kinzane composed this in the conception of the beginning of spring.
春たちて木末にきえぬ白雪はまだきに咲ける花かとぞ見る
| Faru tatite kozue ni kienu sira yuki Fa madaki ni sakeru Fana ka to zo miru |
Spring has risen and On the treetops still remains Snow-white- Early blooming Flowers appear to be. |
Master of the Crown Prince’s Household [Fujiwara no] Kinzane
Composed for a folding screen picture, showing regret for the falling cherry blossoms.
山里に散り果てぬべき花故に誰とはなくて人ぞまたるゝ
| yamazato ni tiriFatenubeki Fana yuFe ni tare to Fa nakute Fito zo mataruru |
About this mountain dwelling Have fallen all, it seems, Of the blossoms, so Somehow, I am awaiting one who must come. |
Minamoto no Michinari (d. 1019)
Thrush (tugumi)
咲く花に思ひつくみのあぢきなき身にいたつきの入るも知らずて
| saku Fana ni omoFituku mi no adikinaki mi ni itatuki no iru mo sirazute |
Blossoms in bloom, I love them so, yet It’s pointless: For I may fall ill I know not when! |
Ōtomo no Kuronushi
Thrush (tugumi)
我が心あやしくあだに春來れば花につく身となどてなりけん
| wa ga kokoro ayasiku ada ni Faru kureba Fana ni tuku mi to nadote nariken |
My heart Is strangely hollow: With the coming of the Spring, I, who love the blossoms so: What am I to do? |
Ōtomo no Kuronushi
When she had abandoned the world of men and was living by the sea.
花咲きて實ならぬ物はわたつうみのかざしにさせる沖つ白浪
| Fana sakite mi naranu mono Fa wata tu umi no kazasi ni saseru oki tu siranami |
Blossoms blooming Yet making no seed are The sea-god’s Garlanded Whitecaps offshore. |
Komachi
小町
On the road, on a profusion of blossom around the Third Month.
折つればたぶさにけがる立てながら三世の佛に花たてまつる
| wori tureba tabusa ni kegaru tatenagara miyo no Fotoke ni Fana tatematuru |
Were I to pluck one, My hand would besmirch it, so As they stand To the Three Worlds’ Buddhas I’ll proffer these flowers. |
Archbishop Henjō
僧正遍照
Composed on blossom on a folding screen.
咲きそめし時より後はうちはへて世は春なれや色のつねなる
| sakisomesi toki yori noti Fa utiFaFete yo Fa Faru nare ya iro no tunenaru |
From the first bloom And ever since that time Endures This world of spring, Colours never changing. |
Ki no Tsurayuki
紀貫之