Kagiri arite chiri wa hatsu tomo ume no hana ka o ba kozue ni nokose to zo omou - Kinyo Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

限りありて散りははつとも梅の花
香をばこずゑに残せとぞ思ふ

Roma-ji: Kagiri arite chiri wa hatsu tomo ume no hana ka o ba kozue ni nokose to zo omou
English Translation: Since there is a bound,
even should you fall entirely,
blossoms of the plum,
leave your fragrance on the boughs,
that is what I wish of you
Meaning: Even if, bound by fate, you must scatter completely, blossoms of the plum, I wish that you would at least leave your fragrance on the branches.
Commentary: Book One Spring Poems 21

Accepting that the blossoms are fated to fall, the poet asks only that their fragrance remain on the branches. It shows a heart that prizes the plum's scent above all and closes the plum sequence.

First line, 'kagiri arite', means since there is a limit, referring to the fixed span of the flowers' life. Poem 77 opens with the same line, lamenting the fall of the yellow kerria.
Second line, 'chiri wa hatsu tomo', means even if they scatter completely, a concessive supposition.
Third line, 'ume no hana', addresses the flowers.
Fourth line, 'ka o ba kozue ni', asks that not the flowers but their fragrance be left on the branches.
Final line, 'nokose to zo omou', pairs zo with the attributive omou, expressing a strong wish.
Source: Kinyo Wakashu
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