Shiraka ouru koto wa omowazu ochimizu wa kanimo kakunimo motomete yukamu

白髪生ふることは思はず変若水は
かにもかくにも求めて行かむ

Roma-ji: Shiraka ouru koto wa omowazu ochimizu wa kanimo kakunimo motomete yukamu
English Translation: White hair growing on me,
that is nothing I regard;
yet the water of youth,
come what may, whatever it takes,
I will go and seek it out
Meaning: I care nothing about white hairs growing on me; but the water of youth, come what may, I will go and seek it.
Commentary: Book Four Love Poems 628

Headnote: "A poem by Saeki no Sukune Akamaro in reply"
Akamaro answers the maiden's teasing: he does not mind his white hair, but he will go and seek the water of youth whatever it takes. Shrugging off her jest, he still shows his will to court her.
The author, Saeki no Akamaro, appears to have been a Nara-period official, though little is known of him.

First line, "White hair growing on me," takes up the last line of the preceding poem.
Second line, "that is nothing I regard," means I do not care; the poem breaks after this line.
Third line, "yet the water of youth," takes up ochimizu from the fourth line of the preceding poem.
Fourth line, "come what may, whatever it takes," means one way or another.
Fifth line, "I will go and seek it out," uses the volitional mu: I will go in search of it.
Author: Saeki no Akamaro
Source: Manyoshu
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