KKS 64
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Text
題しらず
Topic unknown
よみ人しらず
Poet unknown
散りぬれば恋ふれどしるしなきものを今日こそ桜折らば折りてめ
|
chiri-nure-ba |
Once they have fallen |
Notes
- Anymore!
- The conjunction mono wo at the end of the third line can be interpreted in multiple ways, and particularly in the pre-modern commentaries it is not always certain how they are taking it. The majority of modern editions see it as sentence-ending for emphasis, although some also assign it one of the other meanings with an implied ending (either "and" or "but").
- We must pick them today
- Depending on the scholar, the closing phrasing either shows a strong intent or a delicate, resigned feeling.
Analysis
The poems continue to look forward to the falling of flowers even though it isn't actually happening here. The overall meaning of this poem (as well as its feeling) is fairly clear and the disagreements among commentators are over minor issues of tone. The poem seems to be expressing regret at plucking the flowers at the height of their bloom, but that they really have no choice because of how soon they are going to fall (which also creates a feeling of disappointment).
