Kaze fukeba hana saku nami no oru tabi ni sakuragai yoru mishimae no ura

風吹けば花咲く波のをるたびに
桜貝寄る三島江の浦

Roma-ji: Kaze fukeba hana saku nami no oru tabi ni sakuragai yoru mishimae no ura
English Translation: When the wind blows strong,
each time the waves like blossoms
break and fold back in,
cherry shells come drifting in
on the shore of Mishimae.
Meaning: Whenever the wind blows, each time the blossoming waves break and fold, cherry shells come drifting ashore at the bay of Mishimae.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 1191

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "When a shell contest was to be held at the palace, composed on someone's behalf"
When the wind blows, each time the waves breaking white like blossoms fold over, cherry shells drift ashore at the bay of Mishimae, the poet says.
To the image of white wave-crests as "flowers of the waves," it adds the pivot of oru, waves "breaking" and blossoms "broken off," and cherry-pink shells washed in, stringing together flower and cherry in a bright poem. Mishimae was a poetic place on the Yodo River in Settsu.

First line, “kaze fukeba”: when the wind blows.
Second line, “hana saku nami no”: of waves breaking white like flowers.
Third line, “oru tabi ni”: oru pivots on waves "breaking" and flowers being "broken off."
Fourth line, “sakuragai yoru”: little cherry-pink shells wash in, associated with "flowers."
Fifth line, “mishimae no ura”: a poetic place in Settsu, ending on a noun to leave the shore in view.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
Prev Poem: Naniwagata shiohi wa murete idetatan shirasu no saki no kogai hiroi ni
Next Poem: Nami arau koromo no ura no kamigai o migiwa ni kaze no tatami oku kana