Koe sezu wa iro koku naru to omowamashi yanagi no me hamu hiwa no muradori

声せずは色濃くなると思はまし
柳の芽食む鶸の群鳥

Roma-ji: Koe sezu wa iro koku naru to omowamashi yanagi no me hamu hiwa no muradori
English Translation: Were it not for their song,
I'd have thought the willow's green
was deepening in hue—
the flock of greenfinches pecking
at the willow's tender buds.
Meaning: Had they not been singing, I would have thought the willow's color was deepening—the flock of siskins pecking at its buds.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 1399

Headnote: "Among the poems composed on small birds"
One of the poems composed on small birds. Had they not been singing, he would have thought the willow's green was deepening, so like it is the flock of siskins pecking at its buds, the poet says.
The siskin is a small yellow-green bird, close in color to budding willow. Taking the flock perched in the willow for the willow's color deepening, the poem enjoys a witty play of color. Three poems on small birds follow.

First line, “koe sezu wa”: zu wa is a negative supposition, "if there were no song."
Second line, “iro koku naru to”: that the color was deepening.
Third line, “omowamashi”: mashi is counterfactual, "I would have thought"; the poem breaks here.
Fourth line, “yanagi no me hamu”: pecking at the willow buds.
Fifth line, “hiwa no muradori”: a flock of siskins, ending on a noun.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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