Shiratsuyu no oku ni amata no koe sureba hana no iroiro ari to shiranan - Gosen Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

白露のおくにあまたの声すれば
花の色々ありと知らなん

Roma-ji: Shiratsuyu no oku ni amata no koe sureba hana no iroiro ari to shiranan
English Translation: Where the white dew settles,
deep within, so many
voices can be heard—
know, then, that the flowers there
bloom in many colors
Meaning: Since so many voices are heard deep within, where the white dew settles—know, then, that flowers of many colors bloom here.
Commentary: Book Six Autumn Poems II 293

Headnote: "In autumn, when many women were behind the blinds at a certain place, a man called in the first half of a poem, and the second half was added from within."
When a man called in that many voices could be heard behind the blinds, the women within answered that he should know flowers of many colors were blooming there. Seeing many-colored flowers deep in grass where white dew settles, it likens the women behind the blinds to flowers.
According to the headnote, in autumn, when many women were behind the blinds at a certain place, a man called in the upper verses of a poem, and the lower verses were added from inside. It takes the form of linked verse, in which two people compose the upper and lower halves.
The poet is listed as "anonymous," and the composer's name has not come down to us. The headnote shows that the upper verses are the man's and the lower verses those of the women behind the blinds.

The first line, "Shiratsuyu no," means "the white dew," leading into "oku."
In the second line, "oku" is a pivot word joining "oku," for dew to settle, and "oku," the depths behind the blinds.
The third line, "koe sureba," means "since voices are heard," with "ba" giving the reason. This is the end of the man's upper verses.
The fourth line, "hana no iroiro," means "flowers of many colors," likening the women behind the blinds to flowers. From here begin the lower verses added by the women.
In the last line, "nan" is a particle of wish directed at another: "please know that they are here."
Author: Unknown Poet
Source: Gosen Wakashu
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