Yanagihara kawakaze fukanu kage naraba atsuku ya semi no koe ni naramashi

柳原川風吹かぬ影ならば
暑くや蝉の声にならまし

Roma-ji: Yanagihara kawakaze fukanu kage naraba atsuku ya semi no koe ni naramashi
English Translation: Grove of willow trees,
if yours were a shade where
no river breeze blew,
would the cicadas' voices
sound to us so hot as well?
Meaning: Willow grove, if yours were a shade where no river breeze blew, would even the voices of the cicadas sound hot?
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 1019

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Topic unknown"
If the willow grove were a shade where no river breeze blew, would the cicadas' voices sound hot? the poet asks, picturing a summer scene in which, under willows cooled by the river wind, even the cicadas sound cool.

First line, “yanagihara”: a grove of willows.
Second line, “kawakaze fukanu”: where the river wind does not blow.
Third line, “kage naraba”: if it were such a shade.
Fourth line, “atsuku ya semi no”: ya is answered by mashi in the fifth line.
Fifth line, “koe ni naramashi”: mashi is counterfactual; would they sound so?
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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