Yama mo naki umi no omote ni tanabikite nami no hana ni mo magau shirakumo

山もなき海の面にたなびきて
波の花にもまがふ白雲

Roma-ji: Yama mo naki umi no omote ni tanabikite nami no hana ni mo magau shirakumo
English Translation: On the face of the sea
where there is no mountain, they
trail and drift along,
so like the flowers of the waves,
these clouds of purest white.
Meaning: Trailing over the face of the sea where there are no mountains, the white clouds can be mistaken for the flowers of the waves.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 995

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Topic unknown"
Trailing over the face of the sea where there are no mountains, the white clouds might be mistaken for the flowers of the waves, the white crests breaking, the poet says. Where clouds on mountains are likened to blossoms, he likens clouds over the sea to the flowers of the waves, echoing such poems as 987 that see mountain clouds as blossoms.

First line, “yama mo naki”: with no mountains, moving the conceit of clouds as blossoms from mountain to sea.
Second line, “umi no omote ni”: on the face of the sea.
Third line, “tanabikite”: trailing out.
Fourth line, “nami no hana ni mo”: nami no hana, flowers of the waves, are the white breaking crests.
Fifth line, “magau shirakumo”: ending on a noun, white clouds that could be mistaken for them.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
Prev Poem: Sugite yuku hakaze natsukashi uguisu ni nazusaikeri na ume no tachie ni
Next Poem: Onajiku wa tsuki no ori sake yamazakura hana miru yowa no taema araseji