Where no one comes to see them, mountain-village cherry blossoms—
let them bloom only after the others have fallen.

Meaning

As for the cherry blossoms of a mountain village where there is no one to see them, I wish they would bloom only after the other blossoms have fallen.

Commentary

Spring Songs, Book One

A poem composed for the Poetry Contest at Teiji-in, but not selected.

The poet wishes for late-blooming cherry blossoms, expressing the desire to enjoy the sight of cherry blossoms for as long as possible.

Author

Ise

Source

Kokin Wakashu

Other

In cherry color I will deeply dye my robes and wear them; for when the blossoms fall, as a keepsake for what comes after.
Those who come to my dwelling to view the blossoms in passing— when the blossoms fall, will they then be missed?
Like the pale young purple of Kasuga Plain, a robe rubbed with dye—my hidden thoughts are tangled beyond all measure.
In Michinoku, the shinobu-rubbed pattern— for whose sake did it begin to tangle? It was not I who did so.

Where no one comes to see them, mountain-village cherry blossoms— let them bloom only after the others have fallen.

Where no one comes to see them, mountain-village cherry blossoms—
let them bloom only after the others have fallen.