Chirikakaru keshiki wa yuki no kokochi shite hana ni wa sode no nurenu nari keri - Kinyo Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

散りかかるけしきは雪の心地して
花には袖の濡れぬなりけり

Roma-ji: Chirikakaru keshiki wa yuki no kokochi shite hana ni wa sode no nurenu nari keri
English Translation: Scattering down there,
the scene is just as though
snow were falling, yet
with the flowers I find my sleeves
do not ever become wet
Meaning: The way they scatter down feels just like falling snow, and yet I find the blossoms never wet my sleeves.
Commentary: Book One Spring Poems 64

Likening falling cherry petals to snow, the poet notices the difference: snow would wet his sleeves, but flowers do not. The likening of snow and flowers also appears in poem 2, but this poem focuses on the difference of touch, whether or not one is wet.

First line, 'chirikakaru', is the same opening as poem 20, meaning scattering down.
Second line, 'keshiki wa yuki no', uses keshiki, the look or appearance.
Third line, 'kokochi shite', means it feels like snow.
Fourth line, 'hana ni wa sode no', means as for the flowers, the sleeves.
Final line, 'nurenu nari keri', means they do not get wet, the exclamation of noticing the difference from snow.
Source: Kinyo Wakashu
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