Furusato no yomogi wa yado no nani nareba areyuku niwa ni mazu shigeruran

古郷の蓬は宿の何なれば
荒れゆく庭にまづ茂るらん

Roma-ji: Furusato no yomogi wa yado no nani nareba areyuku niwa ni mazu shigeruran
English Translation: The mugwort, what is
it to this dwelling in the
old village, that it
should grow thick before all else
in the garden going to ruin?
Meaning: What is the mugwort of the old village to this house, that it should be the first to grow thick in the garden going to ruin?
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 1029

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Topic unknown"
What is the mugwort of the old village to this house, that it grows thick first in the garden going to ruin? the poet asks, questioning the mugwort, emblem of a ruined home, as it overruns the garden left without its master.

First line, “furusato no”: of the old village, where one once lived.
Second line, “yomogi wa yado no”: the mugwort, to this house.
Third line, “nani nareba”: what is it, that.
Fourth line, “areyuku niwa ni”: in the garden going to ruin.
Fifth line, “mazu shigeruran”: ran conjectures a cause; why does it grow thick first?
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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