この頃は五月雨近み郭公
思ひ乱れて鳴かぬ日ぞなき
思ひ乱れて鳴かぬ日ぞなき
- Roma-ji
-
Kono goro wa samidare chikami hototogisu omoimidarete nakanu hi zo naki
- English Translation
-
In these days of late,
with the rains of May so near,
the little cuckoo,
its thoughts all thrown in disarray,
has not one day without song
- Meaning
- These days, with the early summer rains drawing near, the cuckoo, its thoughts in disarray, does not let a single day pass without singing.
- Commentary
-
Book Four Summer Poems 163
Headnote: "Topic unknown."
As the season of the early summer rains draws near, the cuckoo, its thoughts in turmoil, sings every day. Echoing the "midare" of samidare, the rains, the poem leads into a heart in disarray and lays a lover's brooding over the cuckoo's endless song.
The poet is listed as "anonymous," and the composer's name has not come down to us.
The first line, "Kono goro wa," means "these days," marking the time when the Fifth Month approaches.
The second line, "samidare chikami," means "because the early summer rains are near," giving a reason through the mi construction. It has the same form as "aki chikami" in 208 of this book, setting the beginning of summer against its end.
The third line, "hototogisu," places the cuckoo, a bird that sings most in the Fifth Month.
The fourth line, "omoimidarete," echoes the sound of "midare" in samidare, expressing a heart in turmoil.
The last line, "nakanu hi zo naki," means "there is no day it does not sing," a double negative stressing that it sings every day. "Zo" is a particle forming a kakarimusubi pattern with the attributive "naki."
- Author
- Unknown Poet
- Source
- Gosen Wakashu
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