Composed when the cherry blossom planted at someone’s house had just come into flower.
ことしより春しりそむる櫻花ちるといふ事はならはさらなん
| kotosi yori Faru sirisomuru sakurabana tiru to iFu koto Fa naraFazaranan |
From this year on I’ll deeply feel the spring With these cherry blossoms. That they will soon be gone- Oh, that I did not know it! |
Ki no Tsurayuki
紀貫之
Whenever he went to Hatsuse on a pilgrimage, he stayed at a certain person’s house; he had not stayed there for quite some time, but his host said that there was certainly a place for him there. Hearing this, he broke a spray of plum blossom from a tree standing there and composed this poem.
人はいさ心もしらずふるさとは花ぞ昔のかににほひける
| Fito Fa isa kokoro mo sirazu Furusato Fa Fana zo mukasi no ka ni nioFikeru |
Of people: one cannot Know their hearts, But in my home of old The blossom, with its ancient Scent perfumes the air. |
Ki no Tsurayuki
紀貫之
When he was ordered by His Majesty to present poems, he composed and offered this.
あをやぎの絲よりかくる春しもぞみだれて花のほころびにける
| awoyagi no ito yorikakuru Faru simo zo midarete hana no Fokorobinikeru | The green willow Fronds twisting, Time and again, in spring The ruffled flowers Have unravelled. |
Ki no Tsurayuki (Ca. 872-945)
紀貫之
Composed on an occasion when His Majesty commanded that poems be composed for him.
わがせこが衣はるさめふるごとにのべのみどりぞいろまさりける
| wagaseko ga koromo Farusame Furu gotoni nobe no midori zo iro masarikeru |
My friend Spreads wide his cloak in a spring shower; With every fall The green fields are More verdant than ever. |
Ki no Tsurayuki (Ca. 872-945)
紀貫之
