Kora ga ieji yaya madōki o nubatama no yo wataru tsuki ni kioiaemu kamo

子らが家道やや間遠きをぬばたまの
夜渡る月に競ひあへむかも

Roma-ji: Kora ga ieji yaya madōki o nubatama no yo wataru tsuki ni kioiaemu kamo
English Translation: The road to her house
stretches rather far away—
black as leopard lily seeds,
against the moon crossing the night
can I race and win the race?
Meaning: The way to her house is rather far—can I race the moon crossing the dark night sky and reach her before it sets?
Commentary: Book Three Miscellaneous Poems 302

Headnote: "A poem by the Middle Counselor Lord Abe no Hironiwa"
The poem captures the heart of a man hurrying along a night road to the woman he loves. Her house is rather far, and he wonders whether he can arrive before the moon sets and the dark falls—an anxious race with the moon crossing the sky. Linking the moon's course with the road to love is a witty turn of phrase.
The poet, Abe no Hironiwa, was a son of the Minister of the Right Abe no Miushi; he rose to Middle Counselor and died in Tenpyō 4 (732).

First line "The road to her house": kora is the beloved and ieji the road to her home. The line has one syllable too many.
Second line "stretches rather far away": o is concessive—"though it is far."
Third line "black as leopard lily seeds" renders nubatama no, a pillow word for "night" and "black."
Fourth line "against the moon crossing the night" names the moon traveling the night sky.
Fifth line "can I race and win the race": kiou means to compete, au to carry through, mu conjecture, kamo a questioning sigh—ending in the haste of a lover's journey.
Author: Abe no Hironiwa
Source: Manyoshu
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