Yo no tsune ni kikeba kurushiki yobukodori koe natsukashiki toki ni wa narinu

世の常に聞けば苦しき呼子鳥
声なつかしき時にはなりぬ

Roma-ji: Yo no tsune ni kikeba kurushiki yobukodori koe natsukashiki toki ni wa narinu
English Translation: At ordinary times
it pains the heart to hear it,
the calling bird's cry:
now the season has arrived
when its voice sounds dear to me
Meaning: The calling bird, whose cry usually pains me to hear, has reached the season when its voice sounds dear and sweet.
Commentary: Book Eight Spring Miscellaneous Poems 1447

Headnote: "A poem by Lady Ōtomo no Sakanoue"
The poet sings that the voice of the calling bird, which usually pains her with longing, has become dear and sweet now that spring is at its height. The note says, "The above poem was composed on the first day of the third month of Tenpyō 4 (732) at the residence in Saho," so it was written at the family house in Saho in late spring. Placed last among the spring miscellaneous poems, it conveys the deepening of the season.
The author, Lady Ōtomo no Sakanoue, was a daughter of Ōtomo no Yasumaro and a half-sister of Ōtomo no Tabito. She was the aunt of Ōtomo no Yakamochi and later also his mother-in-law, and she left many poems in the Man'yōshū.

The first line means "at ordinary times."
The second line means "it pains the heart to hear," for a voice that seems to call to someone stirs up longing.
The third line names the calling bird. In 1419 of this book, the poet begs this bird not to cry so much; a heart that shrinks from its voice and one that holds it dear form a contrast around the same bird.
The fourth line, "its voice sounds dear," pairs with "it pains" of the second line.
The final line, with the perfective "nu," states firmly that such a season has come.
Author: Lady Ōtomo no Sakanoue
Source: Manyoshu
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