Wagimoko wa tokoyo no kuni ni sumikerashi mukashi mishi yori ochimashinikeri

我妹子は常世の国に住みけらし
昔見しより変若ましにけり

Roma-ji: Wagimoko wa tokoyo no kuni ni sumikerashi mukashi mishi yori ochimashinikeri
English Translation: My own dearest one
must have dwelt in Tokoyo,
the land beyond the sea;
since I saw you long ago
you have grown younger still
Meaning: My beloved must have been living in Tokoyo, the land of eternal life, for she has grown younger than when I saw her long ago.
Commentary: Book Four Love Poems 650

Headnote: "A poem by Ōtomo no Sukune Miyori rejoicing at meeting again after a separation"
The poet rejoices at meeting again someone from whom he had been parted. Since she looks younger than when he saw her long ago, he praises her, saying she must have been living in Tokoyo, the land of eternal youth. The joy of reunion is expressed as praise of her youthful looks. Like the "water of youth" in poems 627 and 628 of this book, it sings of growing young again.
The author, Ōtomo no Miyori, was an official thought to be a son of Ōtomo no Miyuki.

First line, "My own dearest one," means my beloved.
Second line, "must have dwelt in Tokoyo," names the ideal land beyond the sea where none grow old or die.
Third line, "the land beyond the sea," uses kerashi, a past inference: she must have lived there. The poem breaks after this line.
Fourth line, "since I saw you long ago," means than when I saw you in the past.
Fifth line, "you have grown younger still," uses otsu, "to grow young again": you have become younger.
Author: Ōtomo no Miyori
Source: Manyoshu
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