Kokonoe ni sakeru o mireba fuji no hana koki murasaki no kumo zo tachikeru - Senzai Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

九重に咲けるを見れば藤の花
濃き紫の雲ぞ立ちける

Roma-ji: Kokonoe ni sakeru o mireba fuji no hana koki murasaki no kumo zo tachikeru
English Translation: When I see them bloom
within the ninefold palace,
the wisteria flowers
are clouds of deepest purple
that have risen to the sky
Meaning: Seeing the wisteria in bloom within the palace, I find that clouds of deep purple seem to have risen there.
Commentary: Book Two Spring Poems II 119

Headnote: "Composed on wisteria blossoms for the palace poetry contest in the sixth year of Eishō"
Composed on "wisteria blossoms" for a poetry contest held at the imperial palace in 1051. Seeing the wisteria blooming within the palace, the poet feels as if deep purple clouds were rising there. Purple clouds were auspicious omens, and by likening the palace wisteria to them the poem celebrates the prosperity of the reign.
The author, "Middle Counselor Sukeie," is Fujiwara no Sukeie, son of Provisional Major Counselor Fujiwara no Nagaie, who rose to Provisional Middle Counselor.

First line, "kokonoe ni": "kokonoe" means the imperial palace. Poem 113 of this book also begins with "kokonoe ni," depicting flowers moved to the palace.
Second line, "sakeru o mireba": "ru" is the attributive of the continuative "ri": "when I see them blooming."
Third line, "fuji no hana": names the subject, the wisteria.
Fourth line, "koki murasaki no": gives the color of the wisteria and also leads to the purple clouds regarded as an auspicious sign.
Fifth line, "kumo zo tachikeru": "zo" closes with the attributive "keru." The hanging clusters are likened to rising purple clouds, celebrating the prosperity of the court.
Author: Fujiwara no Sukeie
Source: Senzai Wakashu
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