Eikyū hyakushu 205

Water Rails (鼃)

もしもやと思ひながらにこたふればくせと水鶏の人はかるらん

moshi mo ya to
omoi nagara ni
kotaureba
kuse to kuina no
hito wa karuran

‘Just maybe, perhaps…’
Was I wondering,
When her reply was as
A water rail, ever in the stony shallows,
Lacking, indeed!

Nakazane

Waka Poetry