Matsu o nomi tokiwa to omou ni yo to tomo ni nagasu izumi mo midori narikeri - Shui Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

松をのみ常磐と思ふに世とともに
流す泉も緑なりけり

Roma-ji: Matsu o nomi tokiwa to omou ni yo to tomo ni nagasu izumi mo midori narikeri
English Translation: I thought the pine alone
was evergreen and unchanged,
but through all the years
the spring that pours out its stream
is also green, I find.
Meaning: I had thought only the pine was evergreen, but the spring that flows on through the ages is green as well.
Commentary: Book Five Celebration Poems 291

Headnote: "For an imperial folding screen in the Engi era"
The poet had thought only the pine was evergreen, but realizes that the spring, welling and flowing on through all the ages, keeps its green as well. In the spring water that looks green as it mirrors the pine, he finds an unbroken long continuance. According to the headnote, it was written for an imperial folding screen in the Engi era of Emperor Daigo.
The author, written as Tsurayuki, is Ki no Tsurayuki. The leading compiler of the Kokinshū, he wrote its Kana Preface and the Tosa Diary, and he is counted among the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets.

First line, "matsu o nomi," means "the pine alone," with "nomi" expressing limitation.
Second line, "tokiwa to omou ni," means "though I thought it evergreen and changeless." Following the Rat Day pines of the preceding poems, the evergreen pine continues.
Third line, "yo to tomo ni," means "unchanging through the ages."
Fourth line, "nagasu izumi mo," means "the spring that keeps pouring its water too."
Final line, "midori narikeri," means "it was green," with "keri" expressing the exclamation of realization.
Author: Ki no Tsurayuki
Source: Shui Wakashu
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