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- Manyoshu
Ōkimi no mikasa no yama no obi ni seru hosotanigawa no oto no sayakesa
The narrow valley stream that Mount Mikasa wears as its sash—how pure and clear the sound it makes!
Imashiku wa mime ya to omoishi miyoshino no ōkawayodo o kyō mitsuru kamo
I had thought I would not soon see the broad still pools of the great river at lovely Yoshino—yet today, at last, I have seen them.
Uma namete miyoshinogawa o mimaku hori uchikoe kite zo taki ni asobitsuru
Riding side by side, longing to see the Yoshino River, we crossed the hills and came here, and took our pleasure by the rushing rapids.
Oto ni kiki me ni wa imada minu yoshinogawa mutsuta no yodo o kyō mitsuru kamo
I had heard of it but never seen it with my own eyes—the still pools of the Yoshino River at Mutsuta. Today at last I have seen them.
Kawazu naku kiyoki kawara o kyō mite wa itsuka koekite mitsutsu shinowamu
Now that I have seen today these clear riverbanks where the river frogs sing, when shall I cross the hills again to gaze on them and delight in them?
Hatsusegawa shirayūbana ni ochitagitsu se o sayakemi to mi ni koshi ware o
I am the one who came to see the Hatsuse River's rapids, pouring down in white foam like flowers of bark-cloth, because they were said to be so clear.
Hatsusegawa nagaruru mio no se o hayami ide kosu nami no oto no kiyokeku
So swift are the rapids in the Hatsuse River's flowing channel that the waves spilling over the weir make a sound of perfect clearness.
Sahinokuma hinokumagawa no se o hayami kimi ga te toraba koto yosemu kamo
The Hinokuma River at Sahinokuma runs so swift—if I should take your hand to cross, would people start whispering about us?
Yudane maku araki no oda o motomemu to ayui ide nurenu kono kawa no se ni
Seeking a newly cleared little field to sow with blessed seed, I tied up my leggings and set out—and was drenched in the shallows of this river.
Inishie mo kaku kikitsutsu ka shinoikemu kono furukawa no kiyoki se no to o
Did people long ago listen like this, too, and treasure the sound of the Furu River's pure, clear rapids?
Hanekazura ima suru imo o urawakami iza isakawa no oto no sayakesa
"Come now!" I would say to the young girl just crowned with her feather wreath—and so to the Isa River, whose sound runs so pure and clear.
Kono ogawa kiri zo musuberu tagichiyuku hashirii no ue ni kotoage senedomo
Mist has gathered over this little stream beside the rushing spring that tumbles on its way—though I have spoken no words aloud.
Waga himo o imo ga te mochite yuyagawa mata kaerimimu yorozuyo made ni
Yuya River—"tying," as my love ties the cords of my robe with her own hands—I will come back to see it again, for ten thousand ages.
Imo ga himo yuyakōchi o inishie no mina hito miki to koko o tare shiru
The river valley of Yuya—"tying," like my love's robe cords—people of old, they say, all came to see it; but who now knows this place?
Nubatama no waga kurokami ni furinazumu ame no tsuyushimo toreba kenitsutsu
The dew and frost of heaven linger where they fall on my jet-black hair—yet each time I take them in my hand, they vanish.
Shimami su to iso ni mishi hana kaze fukite nami wa yosu tomo torazu wa yamaji
The flower I saw on the rocky shore as I rowed around the isles—though the wind should blow and the waves come crashing in, I will not give up until I pluck it.