山桜木々の梢に見しものを
岩間の水に泡となりぬる
岩間の水に泡となりぬる
- Roma-ji
-
Yamazakura kigi no kozue ni mishi mono o iwama no mizu ni awa to narinuru
- English Translation
-
The mountain cherry,
on the treetops of the trees
I saw it in bloom—
in the water among the rocks
it has turned now into foam.
- Meaning
- I saw the mountain cherry blooming on the treetops, yet now it has turned to foam on the water flowing among the rocks.
- Commentary
-
Spring Poems 78
Headnote: "Falling blossoms by the water"
The mountain cherry that bloomed on the treetops only moments ago has fallen and become foam on the water running between the rocks. The poet captures the transience of the blossoms in this change from treetop to foam, overlaying thoughts of impermanence.
The Ruijū and Teika texts differ in the fourth line.
Line 1 names the falling blossoms of the topic.
Line 2 names the high branch tips where the flowers bloomed.
Line 3: mono o is concessive, "though I saw them."
Line 4 names the water flowing between rocks, marking the drop from high treetops to low water.
Line 5 ends on the attributive of nu, leaving a lingering sigh. In the next poem, 79, falling blossoms are again likened to foam.
- Author
- Minamoto no Sanetomo
- Source
- Kinkaishu
- Prev Poem
-
Yamakaze no sakura fukimaki chiru hana no midarete miyuru shiga no uranami
- Next Poem
-
Yuku mizu ni kaze no fukiiruru sakurabana nagarete kienu awa ka to zo miru