我が宿の花にな鳴きそ呼子鳥
呼ぶかひありて君も来なくに
呼ぶかひありて君も来なくに
- Roma-ji
-
Waga yado no hana ni na naki so yobukodori yobu kai arite kimi mo konaku ni
- English Translation
-
Upon my house's
blossoms, do not sing your song,
O calling bird,
for though you call, it is no use,
you will not bring my friend here
- Meaning
- Do not sing among the blossoms of my house, O calling bird, for your calling does no good: you do not bring my friend to me.
- Commentary
-
Book Two Spring Poems II 79
Headnote: "On hearing the calling bird, sent to the house next door."
The poet bids the calling bird that sings among the blossoms of his house to stop, since its singing is in vain, and sends the poem to his neighbor. Though a bird whose very name means calling sings, the neighbor does not visit, and he invites him with a touch of gentle reproach.
According to the headnote, it was sent to the neighbor's house on hearing the calling bird.
The poet, Harumichi no Tsuraki, was a son of Niina no Sukune. He served as a senior secretary of Dazaifu among other posts, and was appointed governor of Iki but died before taking up the post.
The first line, "Waga yado no," means "of my house." 77 of this book also begins with the same phrase.
In the second line, "na ... so" expresses prohibition: "do not come and sing among the blossoms."
The third line, "yobukodori," names a bird said to cry as if calling to people. The poem pauses here.
The fourth line, "yobu kai arite," takes up "yobu," to call, from the bird's name: "as if there were any use in calling."
In the last line, "naku ni" gives the reason: "since you do not come." Whereas the preceding poem, 78, writes to someone long neglected with flowers as a pretext, this poem entrusts to flower and bird the wish for a neighbor's visit.
- Author
- Harumichi no Toshi
- Source
- Gosen Wakashu
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