Hana dani mo mada sakanaku ni uguisu no naku hitokoe o haru to omowamu - Gosen Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

花だにもまだ咲かなくに鴬の
鳴く一声を春と思はむ

Roma-ji: Hana dani mo mada sakanaku ni uguisu no naku hitokoe o haru to omowamu
English Translation: Since even flowers
have not yet begun to bloom,
of the warbler's song
the single cry, I shall take
as the sign that spring has come
Meaning: Since not even the flowers have bloomed yet, I shall take the single cry of the warbler as spring itself.
Commentary: Book One Spring Poems I 36

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Topic unknown."
In early spring, before any flowers open, the poet resolves to take a single cry of the warbler as the sign of spring. With no visible token of spring yet, the heart seeks to sense it through the ear.
The poet is listed as "anonymous," and the composer's name has not come down to us.

In the first line, "dani" means "even," pointing to the scarcity of spring's signs: not even the flowers.
In the second line, "naku ni" gives a reason: "since they have not yet bloomed." Whereas in the preceding poem, 35, the warbler drew the poet to the blossoms, here there are no flowers yet and only its voice announces spring.
The third line, "of the warbler's song," brings to a close the warbler poems that began with 33 of this book.
The fourth line, "the single cry," names one call of the warbler, as the poet seeks spring in that slight sign.
In the last line, "mu" expresses intention: "I shall consider that cry to be spring."
Author: Unknown Poet
Source: Gosen Wakashu
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