Narabiite tomo o hanarenu kogarame no negura ni tanomu shii no shitaeda

並びゐて友を離れぬ小雀の
ねぐらに頼む椎の下枝

Roma-ji: Narabiite tomo o hanarenu kogarame no negura ni tanomu shii no shitaeda
English Translation: Perching side by side,
never parting from their friends,
the little titmice—
the lower branches of the oak
they trust to be their roost.
Meaning: Perched side by side, never leaving their companions, the little titmice rely on the lower branches of the chinquapin oak as their roost.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 1401

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Among the poems composed on small birds"
Perched side by side, never leaving their friends, the little titmice trust the lower branches of the chinquapin as their roost, the poet says.
It portrays with warmth little birds huddling to sleep. Where the two preceding poems enjoyed color comparisons, this one shows the birds' affectionate life, closing the three poems on small birds.

First line, “narabiite”: perched side by side.
Second line, “tomo o hanarenu”: never leaving their companions.
Third line, “kogarame no”: of the little titmice.
Fourth line, “negura ni tanomu”: relying on as a roost; the text writes tanomu with 憑.
Fifth line, “shii no shitaeda”: the lower branches of the chinquapin oak, ending on a noun.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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