Hototogisu kaketsutsu kimi ga matsukage ni himo tokisakuru tsuki chikazukinu

霍公鳥懸けつつ君が松蔭に
紐解き放くる月近づきぬ

Roma-ji: Hototogisu kaketsutsu kimi ga matsukage ni himo tokisakuru tsuki chikazukinu
English Translation: For the hototogisu
ever waiting in your heart,
in the pine tree's shade
you will loosen your sash, and
that month now is drawing near
Meaning: The month is drawing near when you, ever waiting for the hototogisu, will loosen your sash in the shade of the pines.
Commentary: Book Twenty Miscellaneous Poems 4464

Headnote: none. The left note reads: "The above two poems were composed by Ōtomo no Yakamochi on the twentieth day, moved by the mood."
The month draws near when you, ever waiting for the hototogisu, will loosen your sash in the shade of the pines: the poem looks forward to summer. The left note says it is the second of two poems Yakamochi composed on the twentieth day of the third month, moved by the mood. Who "you" refers to is unclear. Following the preceding poem's longing for the first song, it rejoices that the fourth month, when the hototogisu sings, is near.
The author, Ōtomo no Yakamochi, son of Ōtomo no Tabito, was at this time Junior Assistant Minister of Military Affairs.

The first line, "hototogisu," is the same as that of the preceding poem, linking the two.
The second line, "kaketsutsu kimi ga," means "you, holding it in your heart as you wait."
The third line, "matsukage ni," "in the shade of the pines," gives a summer place to cool off.
The fourth line, "himo tokisakuru," "loosening your sash," shows ease in the heat of summer.
The closing line, "tsuki chikazukinu," "the month has drawn near," with the perfective nu, ends with anticipation of early summer when the hototogisu sings.
Author: Otomo no Yakamochi
Source: Manyoshu
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