Yamatoe ni kimi ga tatsu hi no chikazukeba no ni tatsu shika mo toyomete zo naku

大和へに君が発つ日の近づけば
野に立つ鹿も響めてぞ鳴く

Roma-ji: Yamatoe ni kimi ga tatsu hi no chikazukeba no ni tatsu shika mo toyomete zo naku
English Translation: Toward Yamato now,
as the day you set out on
draws near to us all,
even deer that stand in fields
raise their voices, crying out
Meaning: As the day draws near when you set out for Yamato, even the deer standing in the fields cry out, their voices ringing.
Commentary: Book Four Love Poems 570

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Four poems from the farewell banquet held at the Ashiki post station in Chikuzen by the officials of the Dazaifu for Lord Ōtomo"
The third of the farewell poems says that as the day of Tabito's departure for Yamato draws near, even the deer in the fields cry out with ringing voices. It entrusts the sorrow of parting to the call of the deer, as if nature itself regretted his going.
According to the left note, this poem and the preceding one are by Asada no Yasu, Senior Clerk.
The author, Asada no Yasu, was an official said to be descended from immigrants from Paekche, and he served as senior clerk of the Dazaifu.

First line, "Toward Yamato now," names the direction of Tabito's return.
Second line, "as the day you set out on," names the day of departure; its tatsu, "set out," is echoed by tatsu, "stand," in the fourth line.
Third line, "draws near to us all," uses -ba after the perfective for a definite condition: since it has drawn near.
Fourth line, "even deer that stand in fields," means even the deer standing in the fields, sounding tatsu against tatsu.
Fifth line, "raise their voices, crying out," uses toyomu, "to make resound," closing zo in the attributive naku.
Author: Asada no Yasu
Source: Manyoshu
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