ちりぬればこふれどしるしなき物を
けふこそさくらをらばおりてめ
けふこそさくらをらばおりてめ
- Roma-ji
-
Chirinureba kouredo shirushi naki mono o
kyō koso sakura oraba oriteme - English Translation
-
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.
- Meaning
- Once they have fallen, however much one may yearn for them, there is no avail; so today, if I am to pluck the cherry blossoms, I will pluck them.
- Commentary
-
Spring Songs, Book One
Though it is painful to pluck the cherry blossoms in their beautiful bloom, if they are left as they are they will fall away; it is as though the poet were persuading his own heart that it might be better to pluck them now.
- Author
- Unknown Poet
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
- Other
-
- Why call it fickle, the cherry blossoms? They, too, waited for one who comes but rarely in a year.
- 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?
- If I were to pluck them, would it not be too painful, these cherry blossoms? Come, let me lodge here and watch them until they fall.
- In cherry color I will deeply dye my robes and wear them; for when the blossoms fall, as a keepsake for what comes after.