Kono haru wa shizu ga kakine ni furebaite ume ga ka tomen hito shitashiman

この春は賤が垣根に触ればひて
梅が香とめん人親しまん

Roma-ji: Kono haru wa shizu ga kakine ni furebaite ume ga ka tomen hito shitashiman
English Translation: In this spring, I'll stay
close beside the humble hedge,
leaning close to it,
and with those who seek plum scent
I shall make friends as they come.
Meaning: This spring I will stay close by the humble hedge, and make friends with those who come seeking the scent of the plum.
Commentary: Spring Poems 37

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Plum blossoms at a mountain dwelling"
This is the third poem on plum at a mountain dwelling. This spring, the poet says, he will stay close beside the plum at his humble hedge and keep friendly company with those who come seeking its fragrance.
The three poems move from waiting for those who seek the scent, to wariness of a plum that halts even passers-by, to resolving to befriend those who seek the scent. The set closes in a calm frame of mind that guards the quiet of the mountains yet welcomes company that comes by way of the plum.

First line, “kono haru wa”: this spring, a resolution for this spring in particular.
Second line, “shizu ga kakine ni”: by the hedge of a humble house, the same words as the second line of the preceding poem.
Third line, “furebaite”: drawing close, as if touching.
Fourth line, “ume ga ka tomen”: who will come seeking the plum scent, using the same tomen as the first line of 35.
Fifth line, “hito shitashiman”: man expresses intention, closing with the resolve to befriend such people.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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