Year
This poem gives a sense of long-lasting happiness (“the eternal moon”) combined with a worry that it is ending (“losing light,” “restless heart,” “scattered [cherry] blossoms”). Cherry blossoms are known for their vivid beauty, but they only bloom for a couple weeks a year before scattering and disappearing. Some interpretations have this representing unease over whether the peacefulness of the Japanese imperial court would last.
My Translation
The eternal moon
Is losing light—
A spring day
A restless heart
The scattered blossoms
| Original Japanese | Pronunciation |
| | |
| 紀友則 | Ki no Tomonori |
| | |
| 久方の | Hisakata no |
| 光のどけき | Hikari nodokeki |
| 春の日に | Haru no hi ni |
| しづ心なく | Shizu-gokoro naku |
| 花のちるらむ | Hana no chiruran |
Literal Translation
Ki no Tomonori
Sky/moon/long-enduring/long-direction
Light remove/take-away/loosen
Spring’s day in
[Quiet/still/lifeless] mind/heart not [= restless/thoughtless/cruel]
Flower’s scatter [possibly also revolt/chaos]