Ume no hana sakitaru sono no aoyagi wa kazura ni subeku nari ni kerazu ya

梅の花咲きたる園の青柳は
蘰にすべくなりにけらずや

Roma-ji: Ume no hana sakitaru sono no aoyagi wa kazura ni subeku nari ni kerazu ya
English Translation: Where plum blossoms
have opened in the garden,
the green willow boughs —
are they not grown long enough
to be woven into garlands?
Meaning: In this garden where the plums have bloomed, haven't the green willows grown just long enough to be woven into garlands?
Commentary: Book Five Miscellaneous Poems 817

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Thirty-two poems on plum blossoms, with preface"
The poet calls out that the green willows in the garden of blooming plums have budded enough to make garlands. Turning his eye from the plums to the new willow shoots, he shares the joy of spring's arrival with the company.
This is one of the thirty-two poems of the Plum Blossom Banquet, held on the thirteenth day of the first month of Tenpyō 2, when officials of Dazaifu and provincial governors of Kyushu gathered at the residence of the Governor-General Ōtomo no Tabito and composed poems on the plum trees in his garden. The Chinese preface describes how, in the auspicious first month of early spring, the air was fine and the breeze gentle, the plums opened white like face powder before a mirror, and the orchids gave off a scent like a perfume sachet; it is also famous as the source of the era name Reiwa. The preface closes by proposing that, just as Chinese poetry has its pieces on falling plum blossoms, the company should compose short poems on the garden plums. The poem is signed "Awata, Junior Assistant Governor-General."
The poet, Awata no Hitogami, was an official of the Awata clan thought to be serving at this time as Junior Assistant Governor-General of Dazaifu. Some identify "Awata daibu" instead with Awata no Hito.

First line, "ume no hana": sets out the theme of the banquet.
Second line, "sakitaru sono no": "of the garden where the plums have bloomed." Poem 825 begins with the same upper lines, "ume no hana sakitaru sono no aoyagi o," composed in response to this one.
Third line, "aoyagi wa": the fresh green of new willows, taken up as a spring sight to set beside the plum.
Fourth line, "kazura ni subeku": a "kazura" is a ring of branches or flowers worn on the head, here as a banquet ornament.
Fifth line, "nari ni kerazu ya": "haven't they become so?"—a question inviting agreement, in the tone of a banquet song addressing the company.
Author: Awata no Hitogami
Source: Manyoshu
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