Neither waking nor sleeping, I spent the night till dawn;
calling it a thing of spring, I gazed away the hours.

Meaning

Neither fully awake nor asleep, I passed the night until dawn; and today as well, calling it a thing of spring, I spend the hours gazing vacantly, overcome by the spring rain and spring sorrow.

Commentary

Episode Two: "NAGAME KURASHITSU"

When the capital was moved from Nara to Kyoto and households had not yet settled, a woman lived to the west of Heian-kyō.
She was more beautiful than others of the world, and her heart was likewise excellent. She did not live alone, yet the man lingered long in conversation before returning.
On the first day of the third month, when a gentle rain was falling, the man composed and sent this poem.

The man is likely harboring feelings for the woman, yet he hesitates.
With what intention did he “gaze away the hours” and send it—
was it only an appeal to her, or did he leave it to her reading, placing his hopes upon it?

Source

Ise Monogatari

Other

Neither waking nor sleeping, I spent the night till dawn; calling it a thing of spring, I gazed away the hours.

Neither waking nor sleeping, I spent the night till dawn;
calling it a thing of spring, I gazed away the hours.