Yamazato wa tani no kakehi no taedae ni mizukoidori no koe kikoyu nari

山里は谷の筧の絶え絶えに
水恋鳥の声聞こゆなり

Roma-ji: Yamazato wa tani no kakehi no taedae ni mizukoidori no koe kikoyu nari
English Translation: In the mountain village,
as the water in the vale's
pipe flows fitfully,
there comes the cry of the bird
that is said to long for water.
Meaning: In the mountain village, as water in the valley's bamboo pipe flows fitfully, there comes the cry of the water-longing bird.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 957

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Topic unknown"
In the mountain village, as the water in the bamboo pipe from the valley comes fitfully, the cry of the water-longing bird is heard, the poet says, linking the water in the pipe with the bird's name to paint a summer village in the hills where water grows scarce.

First line, “yamazato wa”: in the mountain village.
Second line, “tani no kakehi no”: kakehi is a pipe of bamboo bringing water.
Third line, “taedae ni”: fitfully.
Fourth line, “mizukoidori no”: the water-longing bird, another name for the ruddy kingfisher, said to cry for water, linked to the water's faltering.
Fifth line, “koe kikoyu nari”: nari marks inference from sound; its voice is heard.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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