Sakurabana ōku no haru ni ainuredo kinō kyō o ya tameshi ni wa semu - Senzai Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

桜花多くの春に逢ひぬれど
昨日今日をやためしにはせむ

Roma-ji: Sakurabana ōku no haru ni ainuredo kinō kyō o ya tameshi ni wa semu
English Translation: Cherry blossoms
I have met with in the springs
of many a year,
but yesterday and today
shall be my model for all time
Meaning: I have met the cherry blossoms through many a spring, but yesterday and today, when you graced my house, I shall take as the model for all time to come.
Commentary: Book One Spring Poems I 50

Headnote: "Composed when Retired Emperor Shirakawa visited my Kyōgoku residence during the tenfold offering service, and had poems presented the following day"
When the poet held a tenfold offering service at his Kyōgoku residence, Retired Emperor Shirakawa honored it with a visit, and on the next day had poems presented; this poem was composed then. Over a long life the poet has seen cherries in many springs, but the blossoms of yesterday and today, when he welcomed the Retired Emperor, he will make the model for later ages. It celebrates the day of the imperial visit as the finest spring of the aged poet's life.
The author, "the Kyōgoku Former Chancellor," is Fujiwara no Morozane, son of Chancellor Fujiwara no Yorimichi, who served successively as Regent, Chancellor and Grand Minister. He kept his residence on Kyōgoku and was called the Lord of Kyōgoku.

First line, "sakurabana": names the subject at the outset.
Second line, "ōku no haru ni": the many springs of a long life, hinting at the poet's age.
Third line, "ainuredo": "nure" is the perfective of the completive "nu," and "do" is concessive: "though I have met them."
Fourth line, "kinō kyō o ya": yesterday and today, the days of the Retired Emperor's visit. The particle "ya" links with "mu" in the last line.
Fifth line, "tameshi ni wa semu": "tameshi" is a precedent for later ages, and "mu" expresses intention. Like "hana no tameshi ya kyō naramu" in 45 of this book, it makes the day of the imperial visit a model for posterity.
Author: Fujiwara no Morozane
Source: Senzai Wakashu
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