をりとらばをしげにもあるか桜花
いざやどかりてちるまでは見む
いざやどかりてちるまでは見む
- Roma-ji
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Oritoraba oshige ni mo aru ka sakurabana
iza yado karite chiru made wa mimu - English Translation
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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.
- Meaning
- It would be painful to pluck the cherry blossoms. Let me take lodging here and watch them until they fall.
- Commentary
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Spring Songs, Book One
In “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,” the poet speaks of plucking them; in this poem, by contrast, the sentiment is to refrain from plucking.
Even with the same theme of cherry blossoms, the two poems are set side by side with opposite conceits.
- Author
- Unknown Poet
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
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