Harusame o matsu to ni shi arashi waga yado no wakagi no ume mo imada fufumeri

春雨を待つとにしあらし我がやどの
若木の梅もいまだふふめり

Roma-ji: Harusame o matsu to ni shi arashi waga yado no wakagi no ume mo imada fufumeri
English Translation: For the rains of spring
it is waiting, it would seem;
in my garden, too,
the young plum tree even now
keeps its buds still tightly closed
Meaning: It seems to be waiting for the spring rain; in my garden too, the young plum tree still keeps its buds tightly closed.
Commentary: Book Four Love Poems 792

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Two poems sent in reply by Fujiwara no Asomi Kusumaro"
This is the last poem of the book. Taking up Yakamochi's poem 786, "though the rains of spring fall on more and more, the plum's blossoming has not come," Kusumaro answers that the young plum in his own garden also keeps its buds closed, as if waiting for the spring rain. Likening Yakamochi's daughter to the young plum, he shows his readiness to wait until the time is ripe.
Where poem 484 at the head of the book sang of the pain of waiting, this closing poem sings of a calm heart content to wait for the right time, so that the book begins and ends with waiting.
The author, Fujiwara no Kusumaro, was a son of Fujiwara no Nakamaro and an official of the Nara period.

First line, "For the rains of spring," takes up "the rains of spring" of poem 786.
Second line, "it is waiting, it would seem," uses rashi, an inference with grounds: it seems to be waiting. The poem breaks after this line.
Third line, "in my garden, too," means of my house.
Fourth line, "the young plum tree even now," takes up "the plum's blossoming" of poem 786.
Fifth line, "keeps its buds still tightly closed," uses fufumu, "to remain in bud": it is still in bud.
Author: Fujiwara no Kusumaro
Source: Manyoshu
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