Haru no no ni kasumi tanabiki uraganashi kono yūkage ni uguisu naku mo

春の野に霞たなびきうら悲し
この夕影に鴬鳴くも

Roma-ji: Haru no no ni kasumi tanabiki uraganashi kono yūkage ni uguisu naku mo
English Translation: Over the spring fields
the haze is trailing softly—
my heart feels so sad;
in the light of this evening
a warbler sings its song
Meaning: Haze trails over the spring fields, and a vague sadness fills my heart; in this evening light a warbler is singing.
Commentary: Book Nineteen 4290

Headnote: "Two poems composed on impulse on the twenty-third day"
Composed on impulse on the twenty-third day of the second month of 753, it sings of the melancholy of a spring evening: haze trails over the spring fields, and I feel a vague sadness; in this evening light a warbler sings.
This poem and the two that follow, up to 4292, are known as the "Three Poems of Spring Melancholy" and are highly praised as the summit of Yakamochi's art. Their delicate sense of finding unexplained sorrow amid a bright spring scene is said to anticipate modern tanka.
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, "haru no no ni" (over the spring fields), sets the wide scene.
Second line, "kasumi tanabiki" (the haze trailing), depicts the hazy spring landscape.
Third line, "uraganashi" (vaguely sad): "ura" means the heart, expressing sorrow without clear cause; the poem pauses here.
Fourth line, "kono yūkage ni" (in this evening light): "yūkage" is the light of dusk.
Fifth line, "uguisu naku mo" (a warbler sings): "mo" is exclamatory; the song deepens the melancholy.
Author: Otomo no Yakamochi
Source: Manyoshu
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