Can I only look
and speak of it to others,
O cherry blossoms?
I will pluck you in my hand
and take you home as gift.
- Meaning
- Can I only look at them and speak of them to others? I will pluck these cherry blossoms and take them home as a gift.
- Commentary
-
Spring Songs, Book One
A poem composed upon seeing the mountain cherry blossoms.
Since the beauty of the cherry blossoms cannot truly be conveyed to those who have not seen them, the poet develops the idea of plucking them and taking them home as a gift.
- Author
- Sosei Hoshi
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
- Other
-
- If in this world there were no cherry blossoms at all, how utterly so— the heart of spring would then be so calm and untroubled.
- Would that there were no rushing, stone-splashing stream— O cherry blossoms, I would pluck you and come back for the one who has not seen.
- When I look afar, willow and cherry intermix— the capital, behold, becomes in this spring brocade of the season.
- In color and scent, just as in the days of old, bloom the cherry flowers; yet the one who lives through years has changed and grown anew.