Yoshinoyama mine naru hana wa izukata no tani ni ka wakite chiritsumoru ran

吉野山峰なる花はいづかたの
谷にかわきて散り積もるらん

Roma-ji: Yoshinoyama mine naru hana wa izukata no tani ni ka wakite chiritsumoru ran
English Translation: On Mount Yoshino,
the blossoms upon the peak,
in which of the vales,
in which above all others,
will they scatter and lie deep?
Meaning: Into which valley above all will the blossoms on the peaks of Mount Yoshino fall and lie heaped?
Commentary: Spring Poems 111

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "When composing many poems on falling blossoms"
The poet wonders into which valley, above all others, the blossoms on the peaks of Mount Yoshino will fall and pile up.
Taking up the preceding poem's image of peak blossoms falling into the valleys like clouds, this one turns to the valleys where they come to rest. The two poems follow the course of the blossoms from peak to valley.

First line, “Yoshinoyama”: Mount Yoshino in Yamato, as in the preceding poem.
Second line, “mine naru hana wa”: the blossoms on the peaks.
Third line, “izukata no”: of which.
Fourth line, “tani ni ka wakite”: the interrogative ka forms a kakari-musubi with ran in the fifth line; wakite means above all.
Fifth line, “chiritsumoru ran”: will they fall and pile up, closing with the conjectural ran.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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