Chirikakaru hana no nishiki wa kitaredomo kaeramu koto zo wasurarenikeru - Senzai Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

散りかかる花の錦は着たれども
帰らむことぞ忘られにける

Roma-ji: Chirikakaru hana no nishiki wa kitaredomo kaeramu koto zo wasurarenikeru
English Translation: I have put on
the brocade of blossoms
that fall upon me,
yet I have quite forgotten
that I meant to go home
Meaning: I wear the brocade of blossoms falling upon me, yet far from returning home in glory, I have forgotten even to go home.
Commentary: Book Two Spring Poems II 90

Headnote: "Composed on the topic 'Blossoms Detain a Guest'"
Composed on the topic "Blossoms Detain a Guest." Covered by falling petals, the poet seems to wear a brocade of blossoms, yet far from returning home dressed in brocade, he is so captivated by the flowers that he has forgotten even to go home. Drawing on the Chinese saying about returning home in brocade after success, it renders the topic of blossoms detaining a guest with wit.
The author, "Major Captain of the Right Sanefusa," is Sanjō Sanefusa, son of Palace Minister Fujiwara no Kiminori, who later rose to Minister of the Left. At the time the Senzai Wakashū was compiled he was Major Captain of the Right Inner Palace Guards.
"Returning home in brocade" is a Chinese saying for returning to one's native place in glory after achieving success.

First line, "chirikakaru": "falling upon me," petals scattering onto the body.
Second line, "hana no nishiki wa": "nishiki" is a richly colored brocade, to which the petals falling on the body are likened. "Sakura no koromo" in 85 of this book also likens falling blossoms to a garment.
Third line, "kitaredomo": "tare" is the realized form of the continuative "tari" and "domo" is concessive: although I wear it, when one in brocade should by custom go home.
Fourth line, "kaeramu koto zo": the emphatic "zo" links with "keru" in the last line, overturning the saying about returning home in brocade.
Fifth line, "wasurarenikeru": "rare" is the spontaneous auxiliary, "I have forgotten without meaning to." Being held back by the blossoms until one forgets to leave expresses the topic "Blossoms Detain a Guest."
Author: Sanjō Sanefusa
Source: Senzai Wakashu
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