On a place where plum blossom blooms.
わがやどの梅のはつはなさきにけりまつうぐひすはなどかきなかぬ
| wa ga yado no ume no hatsuhana sakinikeri matsu uguisu wa nado ka kinakanu | My dwelling’s First plum blossom Has bloomed, so Why has the long awaited warbler Not come to sing? |
Composed on plum blossom.
鶯はいたくなわびそ梅のはなことしのみちるならひならねば
| uguisu wa itaku na wabi so ume no hana kotoshi no michiru narai naraneba | O, warbler, Cry not with such sorrow! For the plum blossom’s Fair scattering this year Is not a one-time thing… |
A warbler after the rain.
春雨の露もまだひず梅がえにうは毛しをれて鶯ぞなく
| harusame no tsuyu mo mada hizu mume ga e ni uwage shiorete uguisu zo naku | The spring shower’s Dewfall’s not yet dried, but Upon the plum branch, Plumage drenched, Sings out the warbler! |
A warbler between the blossom.
春くれば先さくやどのむめのはなかをなつかしみうぐひすぞ鳴く
| haru kureba mazu saku yado no mume no hana ka o natsukashimi uguisu zo naku | When the spring has come, First to bloom at my house is Plum blossom Fond of its fragrance Does the warbler sing! |
Warblers
草ふかき霞の谷にはぐくもるうぐひすのみやむかしこふらし
| kusa fukaki kasumi no tani ni hagukumoru uguisu nomi ya mukashi kourashi | Deep within the grasses of The haze-filled valley, Wing-wrapped does The warbler fledgling, alone, Think fondly of times long gone? |
Warblers
ふかくさの谷のうぐひす春ごとにあはれむかしと音をのみぞなく
| fukakusa no tani no uguisu haru goto ni awaremu kashi to ne o nomi zo naku | In Fukakusa’s grass-filled Valleys the warbler Every springtime, Longing for bygone days Simply sings his song. |
On seeing snow at the beginning of spring.
かきくらし猶ふる雪のさむければ春ともしらぬ谷のうぐひす
| kakikurashi nao furu yuki no samukereba haru tomo shiranu tani no uguisu | Raking in the darkness, Still falls the snow With such cold, that ‘Tis spring all unknowing is The warbler in the valley. |
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うちなびき春さりくればひさぎおふるかた山かげに鶯ぞなく
| uchinabiki haru sarikureba hisagi ouru katayama kage ni uguisu zo naku | Trailing in Comes spring, then Where red-oaks grow and Cast their shade upon the mountain slopes A warbler sings![i] |
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[i] An allusive variation on: Composed on ‘enjoying cool’ for the Poetry Match held by Yorisuke, the Minister of Justice. ひさぎ生ふるかた山かげにしのびつつふきけるものを秋の夕風 hisagi ouru / katayama kage ni / shinobitsutsu / fukikeru mono o / aki no yūkaze ‘Where red-oaks grow and / Cast their shade upon the mountain slopes / Ever secretly does it blow— / The autumn evening breeze.’ Shune (SKKS IV: 274).
やま里に家ゐはすべし鶯のなくはつこゑのきかまほしさに
| yamazato ni iei wa subeshi uguisu no naku hatsukoe no kikamahoshisa ni | Into a mountain retreat Shall I make my home, for The warbler’s First sung song Is what I long to hear… |
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