Miyamagi no kageno no shita no shitawarabi moeizuredomo shiru hito mo nashi - Senzai Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

み山木の陰野の下の下蕨
萌え出づれども知る人もなし

Roma-ji: Miyamagi no kageno no shita no shitawarabi moeizuredomo shiru hito mo nashi
English Translation: Deep in the mountains,
in the shade-field under trees,
the hidden fern-shoots
though they sprout and come to light
there is no one who knows
Meaning: Under the trees deep in the mountains, in the shaded field below, the hidden bracken sprouts and comes up, yet there is no one who knows of it.
Commentary: Book One Spring Poems I 34

Headnote: "Composed on early bracken when presenting a hundred-poem sequence in the reign of Emperor Horikawa"
Composed on the topic "early bracken" for the Horikawa Hundred-Poem Sequence, this poem says that bracken quietly sprouting beneath the plants of a shady field covered by deep-mountain trees goes unnoticed by anyone. Repeating the word "shita" (beneath), it impresses on us the image of bracken sprouting in a secluded place out of sight.
The author, "Fujiwara no Mototoshi," was a son of Minister of the Right Fujiwara no Toshiie. Ranked alongside Minamoto no Toshiyori in Emperor Horikawa's poetry circle, he was the teacher of Fujiwara no Shunzei, compiler of the Senzai Wakashū. His official career was modest, and he rose no higher than the Junior Fifth Rank, Upper Grade.

First line, "miyamagi no": "mi" is a prefix, "of the trees of the deep mountains."
Second line, "kageno no shita no": "kageno" is a field shaded by trees where sunlight does not reach.
Third line, "shitawarabi": bracken growing beneath other plants. Repeating "shita" after the second line stresses that the place is hidden from view.
Fourth line, "moeizuredomo": "domo" is concessive, "though it sprouts and comes forth."
Fifth line, "shiru hito mo nashi": "there is no one who knows," closing on the bracken greeting spring unseen.
Author: Fujiwara no Mototoshi
Source: Senzai Wakashu
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