Though it has become
a former capital—Nara,
and even in the new capital,
their color unchanged,
the blossoms bloom as ever.

Meaning

Even in Nara, now a former capital, and in the present capital as well, the blossoms bloom with their colors unchanged.

Commentary

Book II, Spring Poems (Part Two)

A poem composed by the Emperor of Nara.

Though the former capital has lost its past splendor and fallen into quiet decline, the blossoms alone bloom with the same colors as before. Having continued to reside in Nara even after the capital moved to Heian-kyō, the Emperor’s feelings for the old capital must have been especially deep.

Source

Kokin Wakashu

Other

Is it spring rain that softly falls—or tears, for cherry blossoms, since there is no one who does not grieve their scattering?
In the wake of winds that have scattered cherry blossoms, there remains— waves rising and surging in a sky without water.
Though the hues of flowers are veiled in haze and cannot be seen, at least their fragrance—steal it for me, O spring mountain wind.
Flowering trees— no longer shall I dig and plant them; for when spring comes, people take after their ever-changing hues.

Though it has become a former capital—Nara, and even in the new capital, their color unchanged, the blossoms bloom as ever.

Though it has become
a former capital—Nara,
and even in the new capital,
their color unchanged,
the blossoms bloom as ever.