Kaku bakari matsu to shiraba ya hototogisu kozue takaku mo nakiwataru kana - Shui Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

かくばかり待つと知らばや郭公
梢高くも鳴き渡るかな

Roma-ji: Kaku bakari matsu to shiraba ya hototogisu kozue takaku mo nakiwataru kana
English Translation: Had it known that I
was waiting for it like this,
would the cuckoo, then,
so high above the treetops
have flown singing past me?
Meaning: Had the cuckoo known how eagerly I waited, would it have flown singing past so high above the treetops?
Commentary: Book Sixteen Miscellaneous Spring Poems 1075

Headnote: "For a sliding-door painting at the house of Lord Rengi"
The poet asks whether the cuckoo, had it known how eagerly he waited, would have flown past so high above the treetops, singing. The headnote shows it was written for a painting on the sliding doors of the house of Lord Rengi, Fujiwara no Yoritada. It sings of resentment toward the cuckoo that flies away high overhead without letting him hear at leisure the voice he has longed for.
The author, written as "Motosuke," is Kiyohara no Motosuke. A grandson of Kiyohara no Fukayabu and the father of Sei Shōnagon, he took part in compiling the Gosenshū as one of the Five Men of the Pear Chamber. He is counted among the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets. Lord Rengi is Fujiwara no Yoritada, a son of Fujiwara no Saneyori, who rose to Regent and Chancellor.

First line, "kaku bakari," means "this much."
Second line, "matsu to shiraba ya," means "had it known I was waiting," with "ba" after the irrealis form expressing supposition and "ya" rhetorical.
Third line, "hototogisu," calls out "O cuckoo," continuing the cuckoo poems.
Fourth line, "kozue takaku mo," means "so high above the treetops," speaking of a distance beyond reach.
Final line, "nakiwataru kana," means "does it fly singing past," with "kana" exclamatory. Answering the rhetorical question of the second line, it reproaches the cuckoo for not answering his longing.
Author: Kiyohara no Motosuke
Source: Shui Wakashu
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