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- Manyoshu
Ada e yuku osute no yama no maki no ha mo hisashiku mineba koke mushinikeri
The leaves of the fine cedars on Mount Osute, on the road to Ada—because I had not seen them for so long, they have grown thick with moss.
Tamatsushima yoku mite imase aoniyoshi nara naru hito no machi towaba ika ni
Look well at Tamatsu Island—for if someone waiting in Nara asks you about it, what will you tell them?
Shio mitaba ika ni semu to ka watatsumi no kami ga te wataru ama otomedomo
What will you do when the tide comes in, you fisher girls, crossing the waters that lie in the very hand of the sea god?
Tamatsushima miteshi yokeku mo ware wa nashi miyako ni yukite koimaku omoeba
I find no joy in having seen Tamatsu Island, when I think how I shall long for it once I am back in the capital.
Kuroushi no umi kurenai niou momoshiki no ōmiyabito shi asari surashi mo
The sea of Kuroushi glows crimson—the court ladies of the great palace must be out searching for shells along the shore.
Manyoshu - Lord Fujiwara
Waka no ura ni shiranami tachite okitsukaze samuki yūbe wa yamato shi omōyu
When white waves rise in the bay of Waka and the wind from the open sea blows cold at evening, my thoughts turn to Yamato.
Manyoshu - Lord Fujiwara
Imo ga tame tama o hiriu to ki no kuni no yura no misaki ni kono hi kurashitsu
Gathering pretty stones for my beloved's sake, I have spent this whole day on the cape of Yura in the land of Kii.
Manyoshu - Lord Fujiwara
Waga fune no kaji wa na hiki so yamato yori koikoshi kokoro imada akanaku ni
Do not ply the oars of my boat yet—the heart that longed for this place all the way from Yamato has not yet had its fill.
Manyoshu - Lord Fujiwara
Tamatsushima miredomo akazu ika ni shite tsutsumi mochiyukamu minu hito no tame
I could gaze at Tamatsu Island forever—how might I wrap it up and carry it home for those who have never seen it?
Manyoshu - Lord Fujiwara
Wata no soko oki kogu fune o he ni yosemu kaze mo fukanu ka nami tatezu shite
If only a wind would blow to bring the boat rowing far offshore in toward the beach—without stirring up the waves.
Ōbayama kasumi tanabiki sayo fukete waga fune hatemu tomari shirazu mo
Haze trails over Mount Ōba and the night grows late—and I do not know where to find a harbor to moor my boat.
Sayo fukete yonaka no kata ni ōoshiku yobishi funabito hatenikemu kamo
Deep in the night, around midnight, I heard boatmen calling faintly through the dark—have they reached a harbor by now, I wonder?
Miwa no saki ariso mo miezu nami tachinu izuku yu yukamu yokiji wa nashi ni
At Miwa Point the waves have risen so high the rugged rocks are hidden—which way shall I go, when there is no other road around?
Iso ni tachi okibe o mireba mekaribune ama kogizurashi kamo kakeru miyu
Standing on the rocks and gazing out to sea, I see ducks rising into flight—the fishermen must be rowing out in their seaweed boats.
Kazahaya no miho no urami o kogu fune no funabito sawaku nami tatsu rashi mo
On the wind-swept bay of Miho, the boatmen rowing there are shouting in alarm—the waves must be rising.
Waga fune wa akashi no mito ni kogihatemu okie na sakari sayo fukenikeri
I will row my boat into Akashi harbor and moor there—do not drift out to sea, for the night has already grown late.