Mukashi koso Naniwa inaka to iwarekeme ima wa miyako hiki miyakobinikeri

昔こそ難波田舎と言はれけめ
今は都引き都びにけり

Roma-ji: Mukashi koso Naniwa inaka to iwarekeme ima wa miyako hiki miyakobinikeri
English Translation: Long ago, it's true,
they called Naniwa the sticks—
so it may have been;
but now the capital's come,
and it has become a city.
Meaning: Long ago, perhaps, they called Naniwa the countryside—but now the capital has been brought here, and it has become a true city.
Commentary: Book Three Miscellaneous Poems 312

Headnote: "A poem composed by the Minister of Ceremonial, Lord Fujiwara no Umakai, when he was charged with rebuilding the capital at Naniwa"
The poet composed this when appointed to direct the rebuilding of the Naniwa palace. Naniwa, once called the countryside, has now taken on the look of a capital, he proudly sings, celebrating the results of construction and the prosperity of Naniwa. Umakai was appointed commissioner for building the Naniwa palace in Jinki 3 (726) and oversaw the construction of Emperor Shōmu's palace there.
The poet, Fujiwara no Umakai, was a son of Fujiwara no Fuhito. He served as Minister of Ceremonial and Consultant, among other posts, and founded the Shiki branch of the Fujiwara. He died in Tenpyō 9 (737).

First line "Long ago, it's true": koso is a binding particle concluded by keme in the third line.
Second line "they called Naniwa the sticks" means it was called rustic.
Third line "so it may have been": keme, the conditional of past conjecture kemu, carries a concessive "it may have been so, but." The sentence breaks here.
Fourth line "but now the capital's come": the capital has been brought here; the line has one syllable too many.
Fifth line "and it has become a city": miyakobu means to become citylike, and nikeri gives completion and wonder. Against the "long ago" of the first line, "now" proudly marks the change.
Author: Fujiwara no Umakai
Source: Manyoshu
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