Matamatsuku ochikochi kanete koto wa iedo aite nochi koso kui ni wa ari to ie

真玉つくをちこち兼ねて言は言へど
逢ひて後こそ悔にはありといへ

Roma-ji: Matamatsuku ochikochi kanete koto wa iedo aite nochi koso kui ni wa ari to ie
English Translation: Like strung jewel beads,
far and near, the time ahead
you promise with words;
yet it's after we have met,
they say, that regret sets in
Meaning: You speak fine words about both the future and the present, but it is after we have met, they say, that regret comes.
Commentary: Book Four Love Poems 674

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Two poems by Lady Ōtomo no Sakanoue"
Men make fine promises about both the future and the present, she says, but regret comes after meeting; she is wary of a man's words. Following the preceding poem, it again voices a cautious heart toward 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, "Like strung jewel beads," is matamatsuku, a pillow word for ochi, from threading jewels on a cord (o).
Second line, "far and near, the time ahead," means joining the distant future and the present.
Third line, "you promise with words," runs to six syllables: though you say so in words.
Fourth line, "yet it's after we have met," singles out "after meeting" with koso, closed by ie in the fifth line.
Fifth line, "they say, that regret sets in," runs to eight syllables: they say there is regret.
Author: Lady Ōtomo no Sakanoue
Source: Manyoshu
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