By Heaven’s River,
you who keep the ferry there—
if he crosses once,
then hide away the oar, I pray,
and do not let him return.

Meaning

O ferryman of the Heavenly River, if he comes across to me, please hide the oar so that he cannot return.

Commentary

Book Four Autumn Poems (Part One)

This poem is spoken from the perspective of Orihime in the Tanabata legend. Imagining that the Heavenly River is crossed by boat, she asks the ferryman to hide the oar so that Hikoboshi will be unable to return.

It reflects a distinctly feminine sentiment, and evokes the figure of a woman of the time who waits for the husband who comes to visit her.

Author

Unknown Poet

Source

Kokin Wakashu

Other

Only yesterday we planted the tender rice— yet before I knew, the rice leaves sway in the fields, and autumn winds begin to blow.
From the day it blew, the autumn wind began to stir— since that time, never is there a day I do not stand by the banks of Heaven’s River.
Across Heaven’s River with crimson leaves for a bridge— is it for this that the Weaver Maid waits for autumn above all seasons to meet?
Longing, longing still, the night we meet is tonight— O Heaven’s River, let the mist rise and linger, and never let the dawn break.

By Heaven’s River, you who keep the ferry there— if he crosses once, then hide away the oar, I pray, and do not let him return.

By Heaven’s River,
you who keep the ferry there—
if he crosses once,
then hide away the oar, I pray,
and do not let him return.