夏山になく郭公心あらば
物思ふ我に声なきかせそ
物思ふ我に声なきかせそ
- Roma-ji
-
Natsuyama ni naku hototogisu kokoro araba
mono omou ware ni koe na kikase so - English Translation
-
In summer mountains,
the cuckoo that cries aloud—
if it has a heart,
let it not let its voice
reach me, lost in thought.
- Meaning
- O cuckoo crying in the summer mountains, if you have a heart, do not let your voice reach me, for I am lost in sorrowful thoughts.
- Commentary
-
Book III, Summer Poems
Hearing the sorrowful cry of the cuckoo while sunk in thought, the poet feels his sadness deepen and thus addresses the bird, asking it not to let its voice reach him.
- Author
- Unknown Poet
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
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Isonokami furuki miyako no hototogisu
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Hototogisu naku koe kikeba wakarenishi
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