Koto no ne mo take mo chitose no koe suru wa hito no omoi ni kayou narikeri - Gosen Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

琴の音も竹も千歳の声するは
人の思ひにかよふなりけり

Roma-ji: Koto no ne mo take mo chitose no koe suru wa hito no omoi ni kayou narikeri
English Translation: That the koto's notes
and the bamboo flutes as well
sing a thousand years,
is that they share the feeling
in the hearts of all who hear
Meaning: If the notes of the koto and the bamboo flutes alike seem to sing of a thousand years, it is because they share the feelings in the hearts of all those gathered here.
Commentary: Book Twenty Congratulatory Poems 1371

Headnote: "On the day Prince Noriakira came of age, when there was music and the Minister of the Right had various people compose poems."
The poet says that the koto and the bamboo flutes sound with a voice of a thousand years because they share in people's feelings. At the music held to celebrate a coming of age, even the instruments seem to wish the prince a thousand years, and he explains this as the gathered guests' good wishes flowing into the music.
According to the headnote, it was composed when there was music on the day Prince Noriakira came of age and the Minister of the Right had various people compose poems. Prince Noriakira was a son of Emperor Daigo.
The poet, "Tsurayuki," is Ki no Tsurayuki. A son of Ki no Mochiyuki, he was the chief compiler of the Kokinshu and wrote its Japanese preface. He is also known as the author of the Tosa Diary, and the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu includes his poem "Hito wa isa kokoro mo shirazu furusato wa."

The first line, "Koto no ne mo," means "the notes of the koto too."
The second line, "take mo chitose no," means "the bamboo too, of a thousand years," "bamboo" meaning flutes and other wind instruments, while hinting at the long life of bamboo.
The third line, "koe suru wa," means "that they sound with a voice" celebrating a thousand years.
The fourth line, "hito no omoi ni," means "with the feelings of the people" gathered to celebrate.
The last line, "kayou narikeri," means "they are in accord, I see," with "narikeri" for realization.
Author: Ki no Tsurayuki
Source: Gosen Wakashu
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