Why call it fickle, the cherry blossoms?
They, too, waited for one who comes but rarely in a year.

Meaning

Though cherry blossoms are called fickle for falling so swiftly, even they were waiting for you, who come but rarely in a year.

Commentary

Spring Songs, Book One

A poem composed when someone who had not visited for a long time came during the height of the cherry blossoms.

According to , this poem is attributed to a woman who had a relationship with . It may be a pointed reproach, couched in the image of cherry blossoms, toward Narihira, who visited her only rarely.

Author

Unknown Poet

Source

Kokin Wakashu

Other

On Mount Yoshino’s slopes the cherry blossoms bloom— so white that I mistook them only for snow.
O cherry blossoms, in a year when spring days abound, will you not let the human heart be sated?
Had you not come today, tomorrow it would have fallen as snow; Even if it did not vanish, could it be seen as a flower?
Once they have fallen, though one yearns, there is no avail; So today, if I am to pluck the cherry blossoms, let me pluck them.

Why call it fickle, the cherry blossoms? They, too, waited for one who comes but rarely in a year.

Why call it fickle, the cherry blossoms?
They, too, waited for one who comes but rarely in a year.