Translation
Spring begins
though
though
Snow is falling
still:
still:
The cuckoo
Sings a cry
On the plum
tree bough.
tree bough.
Commentary
This poem is set in the beginning of
spring, though winter lingers through falling snow. The key wordplay here is “naku,”
which can mean either “to cry/weep” or “to sing,” depending on the kanji. However, the poem only shows the pronunciation, not the kanji, so it could mean either one.
Thus, the reader could interpret the poem as a bird crying (or singing) on a plum
tree bough while snow is falling in the beginning of spring. Usually a bird
sings, but given the context of snow falling when it is supposed to be warm, crying
is a fanciful way of looking at it.
spring, though winter lingers through falling snow. The key wordplay here is “naku,”
which can mean either “to cry/weep” or “to sing,” depending on the kanji. However, the poem only shows the pronunciation, not the kanji, so it could mean either one.
Thus, the reader could interpret the poem as a bird crying (or singing) on a plum
tree bough while snow is falling in the beginning of spring. Usually a bird
sings, but given the context of snow falling when it is supposed to be warm, crying
is a fanciful way of looking at it.
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Japanese
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Pronunciation
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よみ人しらず
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Yomihito shirazu
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梅がえに
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Ume ga e ni
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きゐるうぐひす
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Kiiru uguisu
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はるかけて
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Haru kakete
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なけどもいまだ
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Nakedomo imada
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雪はふりつつ
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Yuki wa furitsutsu
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Translation Notes
Plum/Japanese-apricot
branch/bough/drawing/bay [at]
branch/bough/drawing/bay [at]
Comes cuckoo/bush-warbler/Japanese-nightingale
Spring/far-off/remote
begins/passes
begins/passes
Sing/cry/weep
though as-yet/hitherto/still/not-yet
though as-yet/hitherto/still/not-yet
Snow [is] falling