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
Composed on an old man’s regret for blossom, at the house of Lord Fujiwara no Kanefusa.
ちる花もあはれとみずやいそのかみふりはつるまでをしむこころを
| tiru Fana mo aFare to mizu ya iso no kami FuriFaturu made wosimu kokoro wo | The scattered blossom Moves me without doubt; Until a stone-bound Ancient I have become will Regrets linger in my heart… |
Lord Fujiwara no Norinaga
When he went to the Unrin’in to view the cherry blossom, it was all scattered with but a single branch left.
たづねつる花も我が身もおとろへてのちの春ともえこそちぎらね
| tazunetsuru hana mo wa ga mi mo otoroete nochi no haru to mo e koso chigirane | Paying a visit on The blossom, I, too, Am fading fast; That we will meet in springs to come Is not a promise I can make… |
Monk Ryōzen
Prince Motoyoshi lived with the daughter of Lord Kanemori, but she was summoned by the Cloistered Emperor and, while she was in service to him, he was unable to meet her, so at the beginning of the year in springtime, he took a branch of cherry blossom, and left it thrust through the doorway of her chamber.
花のいろはむかしながらにみし人の心のみこそうつろひにけれ
| Fana no iro Fa mukasi nagara ni misi Fito no kokoro nomi koso uturoFinikere | The hues of this blossom are Just as long ago, when She I saw them with has Her heart, indeed, Moved elsewhere! |
Prince Motoyoshi
On visiting the blossom.
はなをみん年もおもはでこし我ぞふかき山路に日数へにける
| hana o min to shi mo omowade koshi ware zo fukaki yamaji ni hikazu henikeru | To view the blossom I had no thought, but Here I am Deep upon the mountain trails Passing day after day. |
For a folding screen painting of gazing at blossom at a mountain retreat.
時の間とおもひてこしを山ざとに花みるみるとながゐしぬべし
| toki no ma to omoitekoshi o yamazato ni hana mirumiru to nagaishinubeshi | But briefly Did I think to be In this mountain retreat, but In gazing, ever gazing at the blossom Have I lengthily tarried here! |
Evening blossom on a mountain path.
道とほみけふこえくれば山ざくら花のやどりを我にかさなん
| michi tōmi kyō koekureba yamazakura hana no yadori o ware ni kasanan | Along distant roads Today I come travelling, so O, mountain cherries, Among your blossom shelter Won’t you lend me? |
