Chirikakaru kage wa miyuredo ume no hana mizu ni wa ka koso utsurazari kere - Kinyo Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

散りかかる影は見ゆれど梅の花
水には香こそうつらざりけれ

Roma-ji: Chirikakaru kage wa miyuredo ume no hana mizu ni wa ka koso utsurazari kere
English Translation: Scattering down there,
their reflections can be seen,
plum blossoms, and yet
into the water their scent
is not carried, nor reflected
Meaning: The image of the scattering plum blossoms can be seen reflected in the water, yet their fragrance does not pass into the water.
Commentary: Book One Spring Poems 20

Headnote: "Composed on plum blossoms at a poetry contest held at the house of Lord Michimasa"
This poem was composed on the topic of plum blossoms at a poetry contest held at the house of Fujiwara no Michimasa. The poet notices that the image of plum blossoms falling onto the water is reflected, yet their scent does not pass into it, contrasting the plum's color and fragrance.
Within a plum sequence that has stressed fragrance, this poem adds variety by turning to a scene where the fragrance does not carry.

First line, 'chirikakaru', means falling and scattering down, referring to blossoms dropping onto the water.
Second line, 'kage wa miyuredo', uses kage, here the image reflected on the water.
Third line, 'ume no hana', states the theme.
Fourth line, 'mizu ni wa ka koso', uses koso, which closes on the perfective kere in the final line.
Final line, 'utsurazari kere', contains utsuru, a pivot word meaning both to be reflected and for scent to transfer. In contrast to poem 18, where scent clung to sleeves, here the water takes no fragrance.
Source: Kinyo Wakashu
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