Misonou no take no hayashi ni uguisu wa shiba nakinishi o yuki wa furitsutsu

御園生の竹の林に鴬は
しば鳴きにしを雪は降りつつ

Roma-ji: Misonou no take no hayashi ni uguisu wa shiba nakinishi o yuki wa furitsutsu
English Translation: In the palace garden,
among the groves of bamboo,
the warblers have
sung so often, and yet
the snow keeps on falling
Meaning: In the bamboo grove of the palace garden the warblers have been singing often, and yet the snow keeps on falling.
Commentary: Book Nineteen 4286

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "On the eleventh day a heavy snow fell and lay a foot and two inches deep. So I expressed my humble feelings in three poems"
The second of three poems on the day of heavy snow, it says that in the bamboo grove of the palace garden the warblers had been singing often, heralding spring, yet the snow keeps falling. It captures a New Year scene where signs of spring and lingering winter snow coexist.
Following the preceding poem's regret for the snow's beauty, it draws a contrast with the arrival of spring in the warbler's song.
The poet, Ōtomo no Yakamochi, was the son of the Grand Counselor Ōtomo no Tabito. Appointed Junior Counselor in 751, he returned from Etchū to the capital at Heijō-kyō, where he took part in court banquets as an official. He is thought to have played a central role in compiling the Man'yōshū.

First line, "misonou no" (of the palace garden): "misonou" means the imperial garden.
Second line, "take no hayashi ni" (in the bamboo grove).
Third line, "uguisu wa" (the warblers), names the herald of spring.
Fourth line, "shiba nakinishi o" (had sung so often, yet): "shiba" means frequently, and "o" is concessive.
Fifth line, "yuki wa furitsutsu" (the snow keeps falling): "tsutsu" expresses continuation.
Author: Otomo no Yakamochi
Source: Manyoshu
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