Haru ni naru sakura no eda wa nani to naku hana nakeredomo mutsumashiki kana

春になる桜の枝は何となく
花なけれども睦ましきかな

Roma-ji: Haru ni naru sakura no eda wa nani to naku hana nakeredomo mutsumashiki kana
English Translation: Now that spring is here,
the branches of the cherry,
somehow, even though
there is not a blossom yet,
seem so very dear to me.
Meaning: Now that spring has come, the branches of the cherry, somehow, though they have no blossoms yet, seem so dear to me.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 986

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Topic unknown"
Now that spring has come, the cherry branches, though still without blossoms, somehow seem so dear, the poet says, showing how Saigyō, who loved the blossoms, was drawn even to the bare branches before they bloomed.

First line, “haru ni naru”: spring having come.
Second line, “sakura no eda wa”: the branches of the cherry.
Third line, “nani to naku”: somehow.
Fourth line, “hana nakeredomo”: though there are no blossoms yet.
Fifth line, “mutsumashiki kana”: mutsumashi is dear and close; kana is exclamatory.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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