Koishikeba sode mo furamu o musashino no ukera ga hana no iro ni zu na yume

恋しけば袖も振らむを武蔵野の
うけらが花の色に出なゆめ

Roma-ji: Koishikeba sode mo furamu o musashino no ukera ga hana no iro ni zu na yume
English Translation: If you long for me,
I would even wave my sleeve—
but like Musashino's
quiet blossoms of ukera,
never let your love show forth.
Meaning: If you miss me, I would wave my sleeve to you—so, like the plain flowers of ukera on Musashino, never let your love show on your face.
Commentary: Book Fourteen Azuma Poems 3376

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Sōmon (Love Exchanges)"
If you long for me I will even wave my sleeve, the singer says, so do not let your love show, like the inconspicuous ukera flower of Musashino. The caution of a love hidden from others' eyes is entrusted to a plain, unobtrusive flower.
The left note gives a variant from another book: "ika ni shite koiba ka imo ni Musashino no ukera ga hana no iro ni dezu aramu." It is one of the Musashi poems.
The poet is unknown. The Azuma uta are thought to have been sung among the people of the eastern provinces, and they are marked by plain, open-hearted expression mixed with local dialect.

First line, "koishikeba": "Koishikeba" is an eastern form meaning "if you long for me." Poem 3455 of this book opens with the same line.
Second line, "sode mo furamu o": "I would wave my sleeve as a sign," with "o" concessive.
Third line, "musashino no": Musashino again, making three poems in a row on the plain.
Fourth line, "ukera ga hana no": "Ukera" is the atractylodes, which bears plain white or pale pink flowers. The "ukera flower" also appears in 3379 and 3503 of this book.
Final line, "iro ni zu na yume": "Iro ni zu" means to show in one's face, "na" forbids, and "yume" means never.
Source: Manyoshu
Prev Poem: Musashino no oguki ga kigishi tachiwakare inishi yoi yori sero ni awanau yo
Next Poem: Musashino no kusaba moromuki kamokakumo kimi ga manimani wa wa yorinishi o