Ōtomo no mitsu to wa iwaji akanesashi tereru tsukuyo ni tada ni aeri tomo

大伴の見つとは言はじあかねさし
照れる月夜に直に逢へりとも

Roma-ji: Ōtomo no mitsu to wa iwaji akanesashi tereru tsukuyo ni tada ni aeri tomo
English Translation: Like Ōtomo's Mitsu,
"I have seen," I will not say,
though in crimson light
of a moon that shines so bright
we should meet face to face
Meaning: As the name of Mitsu in Ōtomo says "I have seen," so I will never say I saw you, even if we should meet face to face on a night lit bright by the moon.
Commentary: Book Four Love Poems 565

Headnote: "A poem by Princess Kamo"
Playing on the place name Mitsu in Ōtomo and mitsu, "I have seen," the poet vows that even if they meet face to face on a bright moonlit night, she will never tell anyone she saw him. Her resolve to keep the secret of love is expressed through wit with a place name. Some think it was sent to Ōtomo no Miyori, reading "Ōtomo" as a hint at his clan name.
The author, Princess Kamo, was a daughter of Prince Nagaya.

First line, "Like Ōtomo's Mitsu," names the area around the harbor of Mitsu at Naniwa, leading to that name; it may also hint at the Ōtomo clan.
Second line, "'I have seen,' I will not say," plays on the place name Mitsu and mitsu, "I have seen"; ji expresses negative intention, and the poem breaks after this line.
Third line, "though in crimson light," is akanesashi, glowing madder-red, a modifier working like a pillow word for "shine."
Fourth line, "of a moon that shines so bright," means on a brilliantly moonlit night, a time when one is easily seen.
Fifth line, "we should meet face to face," uses the concessive tomo: even if we met directly; by inversion the condition comes last.
Author: Princess Kamo
Source: Manyoshu
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