Found in a Poem from Hyakunin Isshu
Hyakunin Isshu 百人一首 is a classical Japanese anthology of one hundred waka poems by one hundred poets compiled in the 13th century. I once memorized them all in my high school days, but almost half a century later, I remember only a handful.
When prompted with sunlight, I was happily surprised that I could still recite this one poem by heart.
33/100 紀友則 by Kino Nomonori
久方の Hisakata no
光のどけき Hikari nodokeki
春の陽に Haru no hi ni
しづ心なく Shizu kokoro naku
花の散るらむ Hana no chiruramu.
The following is the English translation by William N. Porter (1909).
THE spring has come, and once again
The sun shines in the sky;
So gently smile the heavens, that
It almost makes me cry,
When blossoms droop and die.
Even the most gentle sunlight in the spring can’t stop sakura (cherry) blossoms from falling. Only Impermanence is forever…