Hototogisu kikedomo akazu amitori ni torite natsukena karezu naku gane

霍公鳥聞けども飽かず網捕りに
捕りてなつけな離れず鳴くがね

Roma-ji: Hototogisu kikedomo akazu amitori ni torite natsukena karezu naku gane
English Translation: Little cuckoo,
though I listen, I never tire—
with a net I'll catch you,
catch you and make you tame,
so you'll sing and never leave
Meaning: Little cuckoo, I can never hear enough of you—I will catch you in a net and tame you, so that you will stay and sing and never leave.
Commentary: Book Nineteen 4182

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "A poem expressing my feelings, moved that I never tire of the cuckoo, with short poems"; envoys, three poems
The second envoy, it says that since the poet can never tire of the cuckoo's voice, he will catch it in a net and tame it, so that it never leaves and always sings. His unsatisfied longing grows into a wish to keep the bird by his side.
The shift from the enchanted listening of the preceding poem to the bold idea of catching and keeping the bird shows the strength of his devotion, which continues into the wish to keep it through the year in the next poem.
The poet, Ōtomo no Yakamochi, was the son of the Grand Counselor Ōtomo no Tabito. From 746 he served as Governor of Etchū, living at the provincial headquarters in what is now Fushiki, Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture. He is regarded as the leading poet of the Nara period and is thought to have played a central role in compiling the Man'yōshū.

First line, "hototogisu" (the cuckoo), is the name placed at the head or center of all three envoys.
Second line, "kikedomo akazu" (though I listen, I never tire), takes up the theme of the long poem; the poem pauses here.
Third line, "amitori ni" (with a net), refers to catching birds with a net, naming a concrete means.
Fourth line, "torite natsukena" (let me catch and tame it): "natsuku" means to tame, and "na" is a final particle of one's own intention, expressing the resolve to catch and train it.
Fifth line, "karezu naku gane" (so that it sings without leaving): "gane" expresses purpose, closing with the hope that the bird will sing without going away.
Author: Otomo no Yakamochi
Source: Manyoshu
Prev Poem: Sayo fukete akatokizuki ni kage miete naku hototogisu kikeba natsukashi
Next Poem: Hototogisu kaitōseraba kotoshi hete kimukau natsu wa mazu nakinamu o