Izumigawa nodokeki mizu no soko mireba kotoshi wa kage zo sumimasarikeru - Shui Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

泉河のどけき水の底見れば
今年は影ぞ澄みまさりける

Roma-ji: Izumigawa nodokeki mizu no soko mireba kotoshi wa kage zo sumimasarikeru
English Translation: In Izumi River,
when I gaze into the depths
of its tranquil waters,
this year the reflections there
have grown clearer than before.
Meaning: When I look into the depths of the tranquil waters of the Izumi River, I find this year the reflections have grown ever clearer.
Commentary: Book Ten Kagura Songs 616

Headnote: "Fūzoku songs for the Great Thanksgiving Festival of the first year of Tenroku: the Izumi River"
The poem says that looking into the depths of the tranquil waters of the Izumi River, the poet finds the reflections this year all the clearer. In this year of the new reign, it sees in the river's water growing ever clearer the auspiciousness of a reign ruled in purity. Like 603, which sang of the waters of the Yasu River growing clear, it lays the purity of the reign over the clearing of a river's water.
The headnote, "Fūzoku songs for the Great Thanksgiving Festival of the first year of Tenroku," shows that the poem was offered at the Great Thanksgiving Festival held in the first year of Tenroku upon the accession of Emperor En'yū. From here to 617, as in the earlier sequence of the first year of Anna, poems on place names follow, and some of the same names are sung at both festivals.
The author, written as "Kanemori," is Taira no Kanemori. A son of Prince Atsuyuki, of the line of Emperor Kōkō, he left the imperial family and took the name Taira. He is counted among the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets and is known for his poem "shinoburedo" in the Hyakunin Isshu, with which he competed against Mibu no Tadami at the Tentoku Palace Poetry Contest.

First line, "Izumigawa," is the Izumi River, the place name given as the topic.
Second line, "nodokeki mizu no," means "of the tranquil waters," suggesting a peaceful reign.
Third line, "soko mireba," means "when I look into the depths," with "ba" after the perfective form meaning "when I did so."
Fourth line, "kotoshi wa kage zo," means "this year the reflections," with the binding particle "zo" resolved by "keru" in the final line. "Kage" also carries the sense of the sovereign's light.
Final line, "sumimasarikeru," means "have grown ever clearer." It answers the final line of 603, "sumi zo ainikeru," in singing of clearing waters.
Author: Taira no Kanemori
Source: Shui Wakashu
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