あおやぎのいとよりかくる春しもぞ
みだれて花のほころびける
みだれて花のほころびける
- Roma-ji
-
Aoyagi no ito yorikakuru haru shimo zo
midarete hana no hokorobikeru - English Translation
-
In the spring when green willows
spin threads and weave them,
so abundant with thread—
yet the blossoms
burst open in wild disarray.
- Meaning
- Though it is the spring when green willows are said to spin threads and weave them, the blossoms all around burst open in wild disarray.
- Commentary
-
Spring Songs, Book One
This poem was composed and offered when the Emperor commanded, “Present a poem.”
Since the blooming of flowers is described as “bursting open,” the poet associates this with garments coming apart, and imagines a spring when green willows spin threads and weave them—that is, a spring when thread is plentiful—yet asks why the flowers should burst open in such disorder.
- Author
- Ki no Tsurayuki
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
- Other
-
- Even the green of ever-constant pines, when spring comes, now deepens by yet another degree.
- Each time the spring rain falls on my beloved’s robe, the green of the fields alone deepens its color.
- Pale green threads are spun and hung upon the boughs; threading white dew into shining beads— are these the willows of spring?
- When many birds sing in the spring that chatters on, all things are made new— yet I alone grow old as each new spring comes round.