Hitokoe wa sayaka ni nakite hototogisu kumoji haruka ni tōzakaru nari - Senzai Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

一声はさやかに鳴きて時鳥
雲路はるかに遠ざかるなり

Roma-ji: Hitokoe wa sayaka ni nakite hototogisu kumoji haruka ni tōzakaru nari
English Translation: Once, its single cry
rings out bright and clear, and then
the cuckoo
far along the paths of cloud
is fading into distance
Meaning: Calling once, clear and bright, the cuckoo seems to be fading far away along the paths of cloud.
Commentary: Book Three Summer Poems 159

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Composed as a poem on the cuckoo"
Like the preceding poem, this was composed on the topic of "the cuckoo." The cuckoo calls once, vividly, and then departs far along the paths of cloud. Through the contrast between that bright single cry and the voice growing fainter as it recedes, the poem catches by ear the movement of the cuckoo flying away.
The author, "Former Provisional Master of the Right Capital Office Yorimasa," is Minamoto no Yorimasa, son of Minamoto no Nakamasa, Head of the Arsenal Bureau, who rose to Junior Third Rank. In 1180 he raised arms against the Taira under Prince Mochihito and took his own life after defeat at Uji. Though a warrior, he was also renowned as a poet.

First line, "hitokoe wa": "wa" sets this apart: "this one call, at least." "Yowa no hitokoe" in 155 of this book also treats the cuckoo's single call.
Second line, "sayaka ni nakite": "sayaka ni" means "clearly."
Third line, "hototogisu": the subject of the poem.
Fourth line, "kumoji haruka ni": "kumoji" is a path through the clouds, a road in the sky. From 156 of this book onward, clouds and the cuckoo continue to be paired.
Fifth line, "tōzakaru nari": "nari" expresses inference from sound: "it seems to be drawing away."
Author: Minamoto no Yorimasa
Source: Senzai Wakashu
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