Mono mou to hito ni mieji to namajii ni tsune ni omoeri ari zo kanetsuru

もの思ふと人に見えじとなまじひに
常に思へりありぞかねつる

Roma-ji: Mono mou to hito ni mieji to namajii ni tsune ni omoeri ari zo kanetsuru
English Translation: Lest I should be seen
brooding by the eyes of folk,
forcing it, I kept
always a composed face on;
now I can bear it no more
Meaning: So that no one would see me brooding, I forced myself always to look unconcerned, but now I can no longer keep it up.
Commentary: Book Four Love Poems 613

Headnote: "Five poems sent by Princess Yamaguchi to Ōtomo no Sukune Yakamochi"
This is the first of five poems Princess Yamaguchi sent to Ōtomo no Yakamochi. Lest anyone see she was troubled by love, she forced herself to seem composed, but now she can bear it no longer. She confesses the pain of a secret love she can no longer hide.
The author, Princess Yamaguchi, is a woman of whom little is known, apparently one of the women who exchanged love poems with Ōtomo no Yakamochi.

First line, "Lest I should be seen," means that I am brooding.
Second line, "brooding by the eyes of folk," uses ji, negative intention: so as not to be seen by others.
Third line, "forcing it, I kept," means forcibly, against my will.
Fourth line, "always a composed face on," is taken to mean I always kept an untroubled look, though the phrase is disputed.
Fifth line, "now I can bear it no more," uses kanu, "to be unable," with zo closed by tsuru: I can no longer go on so.
Author: Princess Yamaguchi
Source: Manyoshu
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