Higurashi no nakinuru toki wa ominaeshi sakitaru nobe o yukitsutsu mibeshi

ひぐらしの鳴きぬる時はをみなへし
咲きたる野辺を行きつつ見べし

Roma-ji: Higurashi no nakinuru toki wa ominaeshi sakitaru nobe o yukitsutsu mibeshi
English Translation: When the evening cicadas
cry out in the waning light,
through the open fields
where the maiden flowers bloom
you should wander, looking on
Meaning: When the evening cicadas begin to cry, that is the time to stroll through the fields where the maiden flowers bloom and look at them.
Commentary: Book Seventeen 3951

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Poems from a banquet gathered at the residence of Governor Ōtomo no Sukune Yakamochi on the night of the seventh day of the eighth month"
When the evening cicadas cry, one should stroll through the fields where ominaeshi bloom and gaze at them—a poem commending the charm of autumn fields. This is one of the poems from a banquet held on the night of the seventh day of the eighth month of 746, when the provincial officials gathered at the residence of Yakamochi, newly arrived as Governor of Etchū. Following a run of poems longing for wives, it turns the talk toward the pleasures of autumn fields, easing the mood of the gathering.
The poet, Hata no Yachishima, was a Senior Clerk (the fourth rank of provincial officials) in Etchū; little else is known of him.
The left note reads, "The above poem is by Senior Clerk Hata no Imiki Yachishima."

First line, "higurashi no": the evening cicada, which sings in clear tones at dusk.
Second line, "nakinuru toki wa": "when they are crying," meaning dusk.
Third line, "ominaeshi": taking up again the flower sung in 3943 and 3944 at the start of the banquet.
Fourth line, "sakitaru nobe o": the same as the second line of Ikenushi's 3944, carrying on the banquet poems.
Fifth line, "yukitsutsu mibeshi": "one should walk and look," beshi expressing what is fitting.
Author: Hata no Yachishima
Source: Manyoshu
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