ほととぎすながなくさとのあまたあれば
猶うとましく思ふ物から
猶うとましく思ふ物から
- Roma-ji
-
Hototogisu na ga naku sato no amata areba
nao utomashiku omou mono kara - English Translation
-
Cuckoo, you cry
in so many villages,
so many places—
though I am drawn to you,
still I find you wearisome.
- Meaning
- O cuckoo, you cry in so many places that, though I am drawn to you, I cannot help but find you tiresome.
- Commentary
-
Book III, Summer Poems
The cuckoo is likened to a woman; by crying in many places, it suggests inconstancy in love.
The poem expresses both attraction and a sense of distaste.
It is also included in a passage of The Tales of Ise.
- Author
- Unknown Poet
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
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Hototogisu naku koe kikeba wakarenishi
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Omoiizuru Tokiwa no yama no hototogisu
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