Sawabe yori sudachi hajimuru tsuru no ko wa matsu no eda ni ya utsurisomuran

沢辺より巣立ち始むる鶴の子は
松の枝にや移り初むらん

Roma-ji: Sawabe yori sudachi hajimuru tsuru no ko wa matsu no eda ni ya utsurisomuran
English Translation: The crane chicks that now
begin to fledge and leave their nests
along the marsh's edge—
will they now for the first time
move to branches of the pine?
Meaning: The young cranes now beginning to fledge from their nests by the marsh—will they now for the first time move into the branches of the pine?
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 1174

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Congratulations"
The crane chicks beginning to leave their nests by the marsh—will they now for the first time move into the branches of the pine? the poet asks.
Crane and pine are an auspicious pair, both symbols of a thousand years. The fledging cranes seem to stand for the growth of a young lord or prince and his long future. After the cranes calling in the sky in the preceding poem, here young cranes leave the nest.

First line, “sawabe yori”: from the marsh's edge.
Second line, “sudachi hajimuru”: beginning to fledge.
Third line, “tsuru no ko wa”: the crane chicks, apparently symbolizing a young lord.
Fourth line, “matsu no eda ni ya”: ya questions, answered by the attributive ran; crane and pine are an auspicious pairing.
Fifth line, “utsurisomuran”: will they first move there? celebrating the beginning of growth.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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