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- Kokin Wakashu
Where no one comes to see them, mountain-village cherry blossoms— let them bloom only after the others have fallen.
As for the cherry blossoms of a mountain village where there is no one to see them, I wish they would bloom only after the other blossoms have fallen.
Kokin Wakashu - Ise
Spring haze drifts on over mountains where cherry blooms— as their colors fade, is it that they will soon fall, changing thus before they go?
On mountains where spring haze drifts, the cherry blossoms change their color little by little—does this mean they will soon fall?
Kokin Wakashu - Unknown Poet
Leaving nothing behind, they fall—how admirable, cherry blossoms; for in this world, if things were to remain, their end would turn unpleasant.
How admirable it is— cherry blossoms that fall all away; for in this world, if things were to remain, their end would turn unpleasant.
Kokin Wakashu - Unknown Poet
In this village, I may pass the night on my journey; cherry blossoms— in the confusion of their falling, I forget the road home.
In this village, I feel I may end up spending the night on my journey, as I lose my way amid the scattering cherry blossoms and forget the road home.
Kokin Wakashu - Unknown Poet
Is it like this fleeting world— cherry blossoms in bloom? Even as I looked, they had already begun to fall, and were gone.
Cherry blossoms in bloom seem much like this fleeting world. Just as I watched them begin to flower, they had already scattered and were gone.
Kokin Wakashu - Unknown Poet
Cherry blossoms— if you must fall, then fall; though you do not fall, no one from my old home comes here to see you.
Cherry blossoms—if you are to fall, then fall. Even if you do not fall, no one from my old home comes to see you.
Kokin Wakashu - Prince Koretaka
Where blossoms fall, of cherry trees—in spring, it is as though snow keeps on falling, and will not easily melt away.
Where cherry blossoms are falling, though it is spring, it is as if snow continues to fall and does not easily disappear.
Kokin Wakashu - Sōku Hoshi
Who knows, I wonder, where the dwelling of the wind that scatters blossoms lies? Tell it to me— I will go and reproach it.
Who knows where the wind that scatters these blossoms makes its dwelling? If anyone knows, tell me—I will go and reproach it.
Come, cherry blossoms— I too shall fall away; for once our time of full bloom has passed, we will show an unsightly form to others.
Come, cherry blossoms—let me fall away with you. Once our moment of full bloom has passed, we will show an unseemly sight to others.
The one who came to see but once—might he return? cherry blossoms, today I wait and watch; if he comes not, then fall away.
The one who came to see you but once—might he return? Cherry blossoms, I will wait and watch for today; if he does not come, then you may fall away.
Shut up within, unaware where spring has gone, all the while— the blossoms I had long awaited have already faded away.
Shut up indoors, without even knowing where spring has gone, the cherry blossoms I had so long awaited have already faded away.
Kokin Wakashu - Fujiwara no Yoruka
More fleeting still than when upon the branch, the blossoms fell; so even as they drift below, they become but foam upon the water.
Since these blossoms fell so fleetingly from their branches, even after falling they seem to become nothing more than foam upon the water.
Kokin Wakashu - Sugano no Takayo
If it must be so, would it not be better not to bloom at all, cherry blossoms? Even I who gaze cannot keep a tranquil heart.
If it must be like this, would it not be better if the cherry blossoms did not bloom at all? Even I who watch them cannot keep a calm heart.
Kokin Wakashu - Ki no Tsurayuki
Cherry blossoms— it does not seem they fall so very swiftly; it is the human heart that changes before the wind has even blown through.
Cherry blossoms do not seem to fall so very quickly; it is rather the human heart that changes even before the wind has fully blown.
Kokin Wakashu - Ki no Tsurayuki
In the gentle light of a calm spring day— why is it so? Without a tranquil heart, the blossoms fall away.
In the gentle light of a calm spring day, why do the blossoms fall as though they cannot keep a tranquil heart?
Kokin Wakashu - Ki no Tomonori
Spring wind, pass by the blossoms and blow elsewhere; then shall I see whether they fade of their own accord.
Spring wind, pass by the blossoms and blow elsewhere; then I will see whether they fade of their own accord.
Kokin Wakashu - Fujiwara no Yoshikaze