Mimatsurite imada toki dani kawaraneba toshitsuki no goto omōyuru kimi

見まつりていまだ時だに変らねば
年月のごと思ほゆる君

Roma-ji: Mimatsurite imada toki dani kawaraneba toshitsuki no goto omōyuru kimi
English Translation: Since I first saw you,
not yet has the season turned,
and yet it seems to me
as though months and years had passed,
such are you, my lord, to me
Meaning: Since I first came to serve you, not even a season has passed, yet you seem to me like one I have known for months and years.
Commentary: Book Four Love Poems 579

Headnote: "Two poems given by Yo no Myōgun to Ōtomo no Sukune Yakamochi; Myōgun was an attendant of the Major Counselor"
Yo no Myōgun, who had been Ōtomo no Tabito's attendant, gave two poems to Tabito's son Yakamochi; this is the first. Not even a season has turned since he began to serve him, yet it feels as though months and years had passed, he says, expressing his devotion to Yakamochi. It seems to date from when he had to leave Yakamochi after Tabito's death.
The author, Yo no Myōgun, is thought to have been of Paekche immigrant descent and served Ōtomo no Tabito, the Major Counselor, as an attendant. Shijin were retainers assigned to high officials.

First line, "Since I first saw you," uses the humble auxiliary matsuru: since I came into your presence.
Second line, "not yet has the season turned," uses dani, "even": not even the season.
Third line, "and yet it seems to me," uses -neba with concessive force: though it has not changed.
Fourth line, "as though months and years had passed," means as if many months and years had gone by.
Fifth line, "such are you, my lord, to me," ends on a noun, naming the one he holds dear.
Author: Yo no Myōgun
Source: Manyoshu
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