Uchinabiku haru o chikami ka nubatama no koyoi no tsukuyo kasumitaruramu

うち靡く春を近みかぬばたまの
今夜の月夜霞みたるらむ

Roma-ji: Uchinabiku haru o chikami ka nubatama no koyoi no tsukuyo kasumitaruramu
English Translation: Is it that the spring
of trailing greenery draws near?
In the jet-black night
the moon that shines on us tonight
seems so softly veiled in haze
Meaning: Is it because spring, when the young grasses sway, is near? The moon tonight seems softly veiled in haze.
Commentary: Book Twenty Miscellaneous Poems 4489

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "On the eighteenth day of the twelfth month, a banquet at the residence of Prince Mikata, Chief Inspector of the Treasuries; three poems."
Is it because spring is near that tonight's moon is veiled in haze? The poem feels spring in the moon. The left note says it is by Kannabi no Ikago, Senior Assistant Minister of the Treasury. Taking up the host's line that spring is tomorrow, he finds its sign in the hazy moon.
The author, Kannabi no Ikago, formerly Prince Ikago, later received the surname Kannabi no Mahito. At this time he was Senior Assistant Minister of the Treasury.

The first line, "uchinabiku," from grasses and trees swaying, is a pillow word for "spring."
The second line, "haru o chikami ka," uses mi of cause, "because spring is near," with the interrogative ka resolved by the attributive ramu at the close.
The third line, "nubatama no," a pillow word for "night," here applies to "tonight."
The fourth line, "koyoi no tsukuyo," means "tonight's moon."
The closing line, "kasumitaruramu," uses ramu, conjecture about a present cause: it must be veiled in haze.
Author: Kannabi no Ikago
Source: Manyoshu
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