Michi tōmi Iruno no hara no tsubosumire haru no katami ni tsumite kaeran - Senzai Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

道遠み入野の原のつぼすみれ
春の形見に摘みて帰らん

Roma-ji: Michi tōmi Iruno no hara no tsubosumire haru no katami ni tsumite kaeran
English Translation: Since the road is long,
the little violets
of Iruno's plain
as keepsakes of the spring
I shall gather and take home
Meaning: Because the road is long, I will gather the little violets of Iruno Plain and take them home as keepsakes of the spring.
Commentary: Book Two Spring Poems II 110

Headnote: "Composed on violets for the poetry contest at the Empress's palace in the second year of Kajō"
Composed on "violets" for a poetry contest held at the Empress's palace in 1107. Because the road is long and he cannot come often, the poet resolves to gather the little violets of Iruno Plain and take them home as keepsakes of the passing spring. In the wish to carry home violets as a remembrance of spring itself, regret for the departing season shows through.
The author, "Minamoto no Akikuni," was the son of Provisional Middle Counselor Minamoto no Kuninobu. He served as Lesser Captain of the Left Inner Palace Guards and rose to Senior Fourth Rank, Upper Grade.

First line, "michi tōmi": the suffix "mi" gives a cause, "because the road is far."
Second line, "Iruno no hara no": Iruno is a poetic place in Yamashiro.
Third line, "tsubosumire": a kind of violet, or small violets. Like the preceding poem, 109, it depicts "tsubosumire."
Fourth line, "haru no katami ni": a "katami" is a keepsake that recalls something gone; the violets become a keepsake of spring.
Fifth line, "tsumite kaeran": "n" is the volitional "mu": "I will gather them and go home." It repeats "tsumite kaeramu," the second line of 108, closing the sequence on violets.
Author: Minamoto no Akikuni
Source: Senzai Wakashu
Prev Poem: Kigisu naku Iwata no ono no tsubosumire shime sasu bakari narinikeru kana
Next Poem: Haru fukami Ide no kawamizu kage sowaba ikue ka mieman yamabuki no hana