Himugashi no ichi no ueki no kodaru made awazu hisashimi ube koinikeri

東の市の植木の木垂るまで
逢はず久しみうべ恋ひにけり

Roma-ji: Himugashi no ichi no ueki no kodaru made awazu hisashimi ube koinikeri
English Translation: In the eastern market
the trees that were planted there—
till their boughs droop low,
so long it is since we met;
no wonder I long for you.
Meaning: So long has it been since we met that the trees planted in the eastern market have grown until their boughs hang low—no wonder I have come to long for you.
Commentary: Book Three Miscellaneous Poems 310

Headnote: "A poem composed by Prince Kadobe on the trees of the Eastern Market," with the note "Later he was granted the clan name Ōhara no Mahito"
Singing of the trees planted in the Eastern Market of the Heijō capital, the poet expresses his longing for a lover he has not met in a long time. The time apart is measured by the growth of the trees, whose boughs now droop, and he tells himself it is only natural that his longing has grown. The trees in the bustling city market become a measure of love's time.
The poet, Prince Kadobe, was a royal of the Nara period who served as Governor of Izumo and Master of the Right Capital, among other posts, and was later granted the clan name Ōhara no Mahito.

First line "In the eastern market": the official market in the left half of the Heijō capital.
Second line "the trees that were planted there" are the market's avenue trees.
Third line "till their boughs droop low": kodaru means for branches to grow thick and hang down—so much time has passed.
Fourth line "so long it is since we met": mi expresses cause, "because it has been so long."
Fifth line "no wonder I long for you": ube is an adverb meaning "naturally," ending in the realization that his longing was only to be expected.
Author: Prince Kadobe
Source: Manyoshu
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