さ月やみさよふけぬらし時鳥神なび山におのが妻よぶ
satsuki yami sayo fukenurashi hototogisu kaminabiyama ni ono ga tsuma yobu | In the drizzling dark It seems brief night has fallen, for A cuckoo On the sacred mount Is calling for his mate. |
五月やみ神なびやまのほととぎす妻ごひすらし鳴くねかなしも
satsuki yami kaminabiyama no hototogisu tsumagoisurashi naku ne kanashi mo | In the drizzling dark On the sacred mount A cuckoo Longs for his mate, it seems, for The calls he cries are truly so sad… |
'Simply moving and elegant'