Kono yo ni wa hitogoto shigeshi komu yo ni mo awamu waga seko ima narazu tomo

この世には人言繁し来む世にも
逢はむ我が背子今ならずとも

Roma-ji: Kono yo ni wa hitogoto shigeshi komu yo ni mo awamu waga seko ima narazu tomo
English Translation: In this world of ours
people's talk is all too thick;
in the world to come
let us meet then, my dear one,
even if it is not now
Meaning: In this world the gossip is too thick; let us meet in the world to come, my love, even if it cannot be now.
Commentary: Book Four Love Poems 541

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Six poems sent by Princess Takata to Prince Imaki"
Since gossip is so thick in this world, the poet calls on her lover to meet in the world to come, even if it cannot be now. Its use of the Buddhist idea of a future life is notable, and it expresses a strong will to transcend the obstacles to love.
The author, Princess Takata, is thought to be a daughter of Prince Takayasu. The recipient, Prince Imaki, was the son of Ōtomo no Iratsume and was later granted the surname Ōhara no Mahito.

First line, "In this world of ours," means in this present life, pairing with "the world to come" in the third line.
Second line, "people's talk is all too thick," means gossip is loud; the poem breaks after this line.
Third line, "in the world to come," means in the next life; against the background of Buddhist belief in rebirth, she imagines a meeting beyond this world.
Fourth line, "let us meet then, my dear one," uses the volitional mu: let us meet, my love. The poem breaks again here.
Fifth line, "even if it is not now," gives the condition by inversion. It resembles "even if it is not now," the last line of poem 699 in this book.
Author: Princess Takata
Source: Manyoshu
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