Composed on hearing the first cuckoo of the year.
郭公はつこゑきけばあぢきなくぬしさだまらぬこひせらるはた
| Fototogisu Fatsukowe kikeba adikinaku nusi sadamaranu koFiseraru Fata |
The cuckoo’s First call comes to me and, Foolishly, With no one in mind I think of love. |
The Monk Sosei (859-897)
素性法師
You translated these years ago, but I want to say thanks for doing this. Never expected to learn a little ancient Japanese, but now I will I guess lol
I recommend Professor Haruo Shirane’s book, Classical Japanese: A Grammar (Columbia University Press, 2005).