Kochō ni mo nitaru mono kana hanasusuki koishiki hito ni misubekarikeri - Shui Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

こてふにも似たるものかな花すすき
恋しき人に見すべかりけり

Roma-ji: Kochō ni mo nitaru mono kana hanasusuki koishiki hito ni misubekarikeri
English Translation: How like a butterfly,
or one who calls to me "come,"
these plumes of pampas;
to the one for whom I long
I should have shown them.
Meaning: How like a fluttering butterfly, or one who beckons "come," are these plumes of pampas grass; I should have shown them to the one I long for.
Commentary: Book Seventeen Miscellaneous Autumn Poems 1103

Headnote: "Topic unknown"
Seeing the plumed pampas grass swaying in the wind, the poet finds it like a fluttering butterfly and like one beckoning "come," and says he should have shown it to the one he longs for. Joining "kochō," butterfly, and "ko chō," saying "come," in "kochō," it lays over the pampas grass that sways as if beckoning the wish to call the beloved to him.
The author, written as "Tsurayuki," is Ki no Tsurayuki, the leading compiler of the Kokinshū, who wrote its kana preface and the Tosa Diary. He is counted among the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets.

First line, "kochō ni mo," turns on the pivot word "kochō," joining "kochō," butterfly, and "ko chō," saying "come."
Second line, "nitaru mono kana," means "how like it is," with "kana" a particle of exclamation. The poem breaks after this second line.
Third line, "hanasusuki," is pampas grass in plume, whose swaying plumes were likened to a beckoning hand.
Fourth line, "koishiki hito ni," means "to the one I long for."
Final line, "misubekarikeri," means "I should have shown them," with "keri" expressing a sigh of realization.
Author: Ki no Tsurayuki
Source: Shui Wakashu
Prev Poem: Ogurayama mine tachinarashi naku shika no henikeru aki o shiru hito no naki
Next Poem: Kaerinishi kari zo naku naru mube hito wa ukiyo no naka o somukikanuran