Where frogs are crying
in Ide, the kerria blooms
have already fallen;
had I but known before,
I would have seen them at their height.
- Meaning
-
The kerria blossoms at Ide, where the frogs cry, have already fallen—had I known, I would have come earlier to see them in full bloom.
- Commentary
-
Book II, Spring Poems (Part Two)
Though the poet came all the way to Ide to see the kerria blossoms, they had already fallen; thus comes the regret that, had this been known, one would have come sooner.
“Ide” refers to present-day Ide in Tsuzuki District, Kyoto, known as a place famous for kerria blossoms and frogs.
This poem is attributed in annotations to Tachibana no Kiyotomo.
- Author
-
Unknown Poet
- Source
-
Kokin Wakashu
- Other
-
-
Kerria blossoms,
do not bloom without reason;
we planted you
so that we might view you together,
yet he does not come tonight.
-
On Yoshino River’s bank,
kerria blossoms—
in the blowing wind,
even their reflection below
has faded away.
-
With kindred hearts,
in the springtime hills,
together we would roam,
and, with no place in mind,
spend the night along the way.
-
Since spring has come,
time and months have passed away
like arrows shot forth—
so it seems to me,
how swiftly they have gone.