Kaji ni ataru nami no shizuku o haru nareba ikaga saki chiru hana to mizaramu - Kokin Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

楫にあたる波のしづくを春なれば
いかがさき散る花と見ざらむ

Roma-ji: Kaji ni ataru nami no shizuku o haru nareba ikaga saki chiru hana to mizaramu
English Translation: Spray of the waves that
strike against the oar—since
it is springtime now,
how could I not see these drops
as blossoms that bloom and fall?
Meaning: The drops of the waves striking the oar—since it is spring, how could I not see them as blossoms that bloom and scatter?
Commentary: Book Ten Names of Things 457

Headnote: "Cape Ikaga"
This poem asks how, since it is spring, one could fail to see the spray striking the oar as blossoms that bloom and scatter. The place name "Ikagasaki" is hidden in "ikaga saki" in the fourth line. Ikagasaki is said to be a place name, but its location is unclear. Likening the spray of the waves to flowers, it echoes the "flowers of the waves" in 459 of this book.
The poet, "Prince Kanemi," was a son of Prince Koretaka and a grandson of Emperor Montoku.

First line "Kaji ni ataru" means "striking the oar," setting a scene of travel by boat.
Second line "nami no shizuku o" means "the spray of the waves" thrown off by the oar.
Third line "haru nareba" means "since it is spring," giving the reason for the likening.
Fourth line "ikaga saki chiru" uses "ikaga" rhetorically, and "ikaga saki" hides the place name "Ikagasaki." "Saki chiru" means "blooming and scattering."
Fifth line "hana to mizaramu" closes rhetorically: how could I not see them as flowers? I surely do.
Author: Kanramu Ou
Source: Kokin Wakashu
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