Nagamu chō kazu ni iru beki mi nariseba kimi ga yado nite haru wa henu beshi

眺むてふ数に入るべき身なりせば
君が宿にて春は経ぬべし

Roma-ji: Nagamu chō kazu ni iru beki mi nariseba kimi ga yado nite haru wa henu beshi
English Translation: If I were one to
be counted among those you
wish to gaze with so,
I would spend the springtime through
at your dwelling, I am sure.
Meaning: If I were one to be counted among those you would gaze at blossoms with, I would surely spend the whole spring at your house.
Commentary: Spring Poems 100

Headnote: "Reply"
This is Saigyō's reply to Toshitaka's poem. If he were someone worthy of being counted among those with whom his friend wishes to view the blossoms, he says, he would gladly spend the spring at his friend's house.
Gratefully receiving the invitation, he humbly suggests he is not one to be so counted, and gently declines. Taking up nagamemahoshiki from the preceding poem as nagamu chō, he skilfully ties together the words of the exchange.

First line, “nagamu chō”: that you call gazing with; chō is a contraction of to iu, taking up nagamemahoshiki of the preceding poem.
Second line, “kazu ni iru beki”: who would be counted among them.
Third line, “mi nariseba”: if I were such a person, a supposition contrary to fact.
Fourth line, “kimi ga yado nite”: at your house.
Fifth line, “haru wa henu beshi”: I would spend the spring, answering the supposition with a note of humility.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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