Koikoite aeru toki dani uruwashiki koto tsukushite yo nagaku to omowaba

恋ひ恋ひて逢へる時だにうるはしき
言尽してよ長くと思はば

Roma-ji: Koikoite aeru toki dani uruwashiki koto tsukushite yo nagaku to omowaba
English Translation: Longing, longing so,
now at least that we have met,
give me tender words,
lavish all your loving words,
if you want our love to last
Meaning: At least when we meet after so much longing, speak to me with all the tender words you have, if you truly want our love to last.
Commentary: Book Four Love Poems 661

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Six poems by Lady Ōtomo no Sakanoue"
In the last of the six, she asks that at least when they meet after long longing he speak all the tender words he can, if he means their love to last. After doubting him and fretting over rumor, the sequence closes with a frank wish for words of love.
The author, Lady Ōtomo no Sakanoue, was a daughter of Ōtomo no Yasumaro and half-sister of Ōtomo no Tabito. She left many poems in the Man'yōshū and is esteemed as a leading woman poet.

First line, "Longing, longing so," doubles koi, "longing," to show its depth.
Second line, "now at least that we have met," uses dani, "at least": when we meet.
Third line, "give me tender words," uses uruwashi, "gracious, heartfelt."
Fourth line, "lavish all your loving words," means exhaust your words; the poem breaks after this line.
Fifth line, "if you want our love to last," gives the condition by inversion.
Author: Lady Ōtomo no Sakanoue
Source: Manyoshu
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