Nubatama no kurokami kawari shirakete mo itaki koi ni wa au toki arikeri

ぬばたまの黒髪変り白けても
痛き恋には逢ふ時ありけり

Roma-ji: Nubatama no kurokami kawari shirakete mo itaki koi ni wa au toki arikeri
English Translation: Black as the berries,
though my black hair has turned
and grown white with years,
with a love so sharp as this
one may meet, it seems, even then
Meaning: Even when one's black hair has changed and turned white, there comes a time, I now know, to meet with a painful love.
Commentary: Book Four Love Poems 573

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Two poems sent by the Novice Mansei to Lord Ōtomo, Governor-General of the Dazaifu, after he had gone up to the capital"
The poet realizes that even when black hair has turned white with age, one may still meet with a painful love. He likens the pain of parting from Tabito to the suffering of love tasted even in old age. Like Ōtomo no Momoyo's poem 559 and Lady Sakanoue's poem 563 in this book, it pairs old age with love.
The author, the Novice Mansei, was known in lay life as Kasa no Maro; after serving as governor of Mino and elsewhere, he took orders. As superintendent for the construction of the Kanzeonji temple in Tsukushi, he was there and associated with Tabito and his circle.

First line, "Black as the berries," is nubatama no, a pillow word for "black."
Second line, "though my black hair has turned," means my black hair has changed, showing the passing years.
Third line, "and grown white with years," means even having turned white, te mo being concessive.
Fourth line, "with a love so sharp as this," uses itashi, "painful, piercing," for a love that hurts.
Fifth line, "one may meet, it seems, even then," uses keri for sudden realization: there is indeed a time for meeting it.
Author: The Novice Mansei
Source: Manyoshu
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