Asa ni ke ni mimaku hori suru sono tama o ika ni seba ka mo te yu karezu aramu

朝に日に見まく欲りするその玉を
いかにせばかも手ゆ離れずあらむ

Roma-ji: Asa ni ke ni mimaku hori suru sono tama o ika ni seba ka mo te yu karezu aramu
English Translation: Morning and daylong
I would gaze upon it so—
that jewel of mine,
what must I do to keep it
never parted from my hand?
Meaning: That jewel I long to gaze on morning and day—what can I do to keep it always in my hand?
Commentary: Book Three Allegorical Poems 403

Headnote: "A poem sent by Ōtomo no Sukune Yakamochi to the Elder Daughter of the same Sakanoue house"
This poem belongs to the section of Allegorical Poems in Book Three. It was sent to the Elder Daughter of the Sakanoue house. How can he keep always at hand the precious jewel he wishes to gaze on morning and day? he asks, expressing through the image of a jewel his wish to be ever with his beloved. The Elder Daughter was the daughter of Lady Ōtomo no Sakanoue and later became Yakamochi's wife.
The poet, Ōtomo no Yakamochi, was a son of Ōtomo no Tabito and a Nara-period official. He served as Governor of Etchū and of Inaba, among other posts, rose to Middle Counselor, and died in Enryaku 4 (785). He is thought to have been deeply involved in compiling the Man'yōshū.

First line "Morning and daylong" means always.
Second line "I would gaze upon it so": mimaku means "to see" and horisu "to desire."
Third line "that jewel of mine": tama, a precious gem, stands for his beloved.
Fourth line "what must I do": ka is an interrogative binding particle, concluded by mu at the end.
Fifth line "never parted from my hand": yu means "from." It draws on the custom of wearing gems wound about the wrist.
Author: Otomo no Yakamochi
Source: Manyoshu
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