Hana no ori kashiwa ni tsutsumu shinanonashi wa midori naredomo akashi no mi to miyu

花の折柏に包む信濃梨は
緑なれどもあかしの実と見ゆ

Roma-ji: Hana no ori kashiwa ni tsutsumu shinanonashi wa midori naredomo akashi no mi to miyu
English Translation: The Shinano pear,
wrapped up in oak leaves and sent
in the time of blossoms—
though still green, it seems to me
a ripe fruit, a token true.
Meaning: The Shinano pear, wrapped in oak leaves and sent in blossom time, is still green, yet to me it looks like a ripe red fruit, a token of your kindness.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 1445

Headnote: "A gravely ill person, seeing pear trees in flower in the fourth month, wished for a pear. When I asked around in hope, someone sent just one pear wrapped in withered oak leaves with a note saying, 'This is all there is'"
A gravely ill person, seeing pear blossoms in the fourth month, longed for a pear; Saigyō asked around, and someone sent a single pear wrapped in withered oak leaves, saying it was all there was. The Shinano pear sent in blossom time is still green, yet it looks to him a fruit of proof, a token of the giver's kindness.
It thanks one who searched out an out-of-season pear to send. Akashi seems to join "red" with ripeness and "proof," a witty thought that even a green pear looks red as a heartfelt token.

First line, “hana no ori”: in the season of pear blossoms.
Second line, “kashiwa ni tsutsumu”: wrapped in oak leaves.
Third line, “shinanonashi wa”: the pear from Shinano; the line has an extra syllable.
Fourth line, “midori naredomo”: though it is green.
Fifth line, “akashi no mi to miyu”: akashi seems to join "red" with "proof"; the line has an extra syllable.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
Prev Poem: Tsubana nuku kitano no chihara aseyukeba kokoro sumire zo oikawarikeru
Next Poem: Furinikeri kimi ga miyuki no suzu no sō wa ika naru yo ni mo taezu kikoete