Minasoko ni fukaki midori no iro miete kaze ni nami yoru kawayanagi kana

水底に深き緑の色見えて
風になみよる川柳かな

Roma-ji: Minasoko ni fukaki midori no iro miete kaze ni nami yoru kawayanagi kana
English Translation: Deep beneath the stream
the color of rich green hues
shows to the eye there,
and in the wind they ripple:
the willows along the stream.
Meaning: Deep in the water the rich green shows, and in the wind the willows by the river ripple and bend together like waves.
Commentary: Spring Poems 55

Headnote: "Willows at the water's edge"
The topic is willows at the water's edge. The deep green of the willow is reflected at the bottom of the river, and when the wind blows the willow branches sway together along with the waves on the water.
Joining the green reflected in the water with the branches swaying in the wind, the poem depicts a scene where water and willow are one. The willow poems continue across various settings: a mountain dwelling, rain, wind and the water's edge.

First line, “minasoko ni”: at the bottom of the river.
Second line, “fukaki midori no”: of the willow's deep green.
Third line, “iro miete”: the color showing, reflected in the water.
Fourth line, “kaze ni nami yoru”: nami yoru joins nami, waves, drawing in, with nami, in a row, the branches bending together.
Fifth line, “kawayanagi kana”: the willows by the river, closing with the exclamatory kana.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
Prev Poem: Miwataseba Saho no kawara ni kurikakete kaze ni yoraruru aoyagi no ito
Next Poem: Matsu ni yori chiranu kokoro o yamazakura sakinaba hana no omoishiranan