Kaze o dani machite zo hana no chirinamashi kokorozukara ni utsurou ga usa - Gosen Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

風をだに待ちてぞ花の散りなまし
心づからにうつろふが憂さ

Roma-ji: Kaze o dani machite zo hana no chirinamashi kokorozukara ni utsurou ga usa
English Translation: If only at least
they waited for the wind before
the flowers fell;
of their own heart they fade away—
and this is what I find so hard
Meaning: If only the blossoms would at least wait for the wind before they fall; that they fade of their own accord is what pains me so.
Commentary: Book Three Spring Poems III 88

Headnote: "Topic unknown."
The poet wishes that the flowers would at least wait for the wind before falling, finding it painful that they fade of their own accord. Scattering by the wind could be accepted, but the flowers' fading of their own will deepens his grief.
The poet, Ki no Tsurayuki, was a son of Ki no Mochiyuki. He was the leading compiler of the Kokin Wakashū and wrote its kana preface. He served as governor of Tosa among other posts, is known as the author of the Tosa Diary, and is counted among the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets.

In the first line, "dani" means "at least," so "if they would at least wait for the wind." 91 of this book, by contrast, sings of flowers that fall when the wind lures them, forming a pair.
In the second line, "zo" forms a kakarimusubi pattern with the attributive "mashi" in the third line.
In the third line, "mashi" wishes things were otherwise: "if only they would fall then." The poem pauses here.
The fourth line, "kokorozukara ni," means "of their own heart, of their own accord," treating the flowers like people.
In the last line, "usa" means pain, and the poem ends on a noun, stating outright the pain of the flowers fading of their own accord.
Author: Ki no Tsurayuki
Source: Gosen Wakashu
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