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- Manyoshu
Ashibe ni wa tazugane nakite minatokaze samuku fukuramu Tsuo no saki wa mo
By the reeds the cranes must be crying, and the harbor wind must be blowing cold—ah, the cape of Tsuo!
Manyoshu - Prince Wakayue
Miyoshino no Takaki no yama ni shirakumo wa yukihabakarite tanabikeri miyu
On Mount Takaki in fair Yoshino, I see the white clouds hanging there, as if hesitant to move on.
Manyoshu - Tsūkan
Nawa no ura ni shio yaku keburi yū sareba yukisugikanete yama ni tanabiku
The smoke of the salt fires at Nawa Bay, when evening comes, cannot drift away and hangs trailing on the mountain.
Manyoshu - Heki no Oyu
Ōnamuchi Sukunahikona no imashikemu Shitsu no iwaya wa ikuyo henikemu
The rock cave of Shitsu, where the gods Ōnamuchi and Sukunahikona are said to have dwelt—how many ages has it seen go by?
Manyoshu - Ōshi no Mahito
Kyō mo ka mo Asuka no kawa no yū sarazu kawazu naku se no sayakeku aruramu
Today, too, on the Asuka River, are the shallows where the river frogs sing every evening still clear and fresh?
Manyoshu - Kami no Komaro
Nawa no ura yu sogai ni miyuru okitsushima kogimiru fune wa tsuri shi surashi mo
Around the offshore island seen behind me from the bay of Nawa, the boats rowing about must be out fishing.
Manyoshu - Yamabe no Akahito
Muko no ura o kogimiru obune Awashima o sogai ni mitsutsu tomoshiki obune
The little boat rowing about Muko Bay, with Awashima behind it as it goes—how I envy that little boat!
Manyoshu - Yamabe no Akahito
Ae no shima u no sumu iso ni yosuru nami manaku kono koro Yamato shi omooyu
Like the waves that break ceaselessly on the rocky shore of Ae Island, where the cormorants live, these days Yamato is constantly in my thoughts.
Manyoshu - Yamabe no Akahito
Shiohinaba tamamo karitsume ie no imo ga hamazuto kowaba nani o shimesamu
When the tide goes out, gather the fine seaweed—if my wife at home asks for a gift from the shore, what else would I have to show her?
Manyoshu - Yamabe no Akahito
Akikaze no samuki asake o Sanu no oka koyuramu kimi ni kinu kasamashi o
On this dawn chilled by the autumn wind, you must be crossing the hill of Sanu—I wish I had lent you my robe.
Manyoshu - Yamabe no Akahito
Misago iru isomi ni ouru nanoriso no na wa norashiteyo oya wa shiru tomo
Like the seaweed nanoriso—"don't tell your name"—growing on the rocky shore where the ospreys live: no, do tell me your name, even if your parents find out.
Manyoshu - Yamabe no Akahito
Misago iru ariso ni ouru nanoriso no yoshi na wa norase oya wa shiru tomo
Like the nanoriso seaweed growing on the rough shore where the ospreys live—come what may, tell me your name, even if your parents find out.
Manyoshu - Yamabe no Akahito
Masurao no yuzue furiokoshi itsuru ya o nochi mimu hito wa kataritsugu gane
The arrow a brave man shot, swinging his bow up high—may those who see it in times to come tell the tale to others.
Manyoshu - Kasa no Kanamura
Shiotsuyama uchikoe yukeba aga noreru uma zo tsumazuku ie kourashi mo
As I cross over Mount Shiotsu, the horse I ride stumbles—the people at home must be longing for me.
Manyoshu - Kasa no Kanamura
Koshi no umi no Tayui ga ura o tabi ni shite mireba tomoshimi Yamato shinoitsu
Seeing the bay of Tayui on the sea of Koshi as I travel, I am so drawn to it that I find myself longing for Yamato.
Manyoshu - Kasa no Kanamura
Ōbune ni makaji shiji nuki ōkimi no mikoto kashikomi isomi suru kamo
With oars set thick along both sides of a great ship, in reverence for my sovereign's command, I make my way along the rocky shores.
Manyoshu - Master Isonokami