Yukikaeru haru o mo shirazu hana sakanu miyamagakure no uguisu no koe - Shui Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

行きかへる春をも知らず花咲かぬ
み山隠れの鶯の声

Roma-ji: Yukikaeru haru o mo shirazu hana sakanu miyamagakure no uguisu no koe
English Translation: Knowing nothing of
the spring that goes and comes again,
where no flowers bloom,
hidden deep within the hills,
such is this warbler's voice.
Meaning: Mine is the voice of a bush warbler hidden deep in the mountains where no flowers bloom, knowing nothing of the spring that comes and goes.
Commentary: Book Sixteen Miscellaneous Spring Poems 1065

Headnote: "In reply"
The poet replies that his is the voice of a bush warbler hidden in deep mountains where no flowers bloom, unaware even of spring's coming and going. Reproached in the preceding poem, 1064, for his seclusion through the image of a warbler that does not sing, he takes up the same image and answers that he is a warbler hidden in the deep mountains, knowing nothing of spring's turning. He modestly conveys his feeling of withdrawing from the world in discontent at his fortunes.
The author, written as "Lord Kintō," is Fujiwara no Kintō. A son of the Chancellor Fujiwara no Yoritada, he rose to Provisional Major Counselor and was called the Shijō Major Counselor. He compiled the Wakan Rōeishū and wrote the poetic treatise Shinsen Zuinō.

First line, "yukikaeru," means "that goes and comes again."
Second line, "haru o mo shirazu," means "knowing nothing even of spring," taking up the final line of the preceding poem, 1064, "haru mo suginuru."
Third line, "hana sakanu," means "where no flowers bloom," modifying "miyama" in the fourth line and laying over it a life without brilliance.
Fourth line, "miyamagakure no," means "hidden deep in the mountains," sharing the same line with the second line of 1073 in this book, "miyamagakure no."
Final line, "uguisu no koe," means "is the voice of a bush warbler," taking up "uguisu no" in the third line of the preceding poem and ending on a noun.
Author: Fujiwara no Kintō
Source: Shui Wakashu
Prev Poem: Tani no to o toji ya hatetsuru uguisu no matsu ni oto sede haru mo suginuru
Next Poem: Haru wa oshi hototogisu hata kikamahoshi omoiwazurau shizugokoro kana