ももしきの大宮人は多かれど
心に乗りて思ほゆる妹
心に乗りて思ほゆる妹
- Roma-ji
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Momoshiki no ōmiyahito wa ōkaredo kokoro ni norite omōyuru imo
- English Translation
-
In the palace courts,
many are the courtly folk,
many, and yet you
ride upon my heart alone,
you, my love, are all I think of
- Meaning
- There are many people serving at the palace, but you alone ride upon my heart, my love, and fill my thoughts.
- Commentary
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Book Four Love Poems 691
Headnote: "Two poems sent by Ōtomo no Sukune Yakamochi to a maiden"
Among the many who serve at the palace, there is one woman who alone weighs on his heart and never leaves his mind. The phrase "ride upon my heart" expresses how she fills his heart and will not leave it.
The author, Ōtomo no Yakamochi, was the son of Ōtomo no Tabito and a poet thought to have been deeply involved in compiling the Man'yōshū. He later rose to the rank of Middle Counselor.
First line, "In the palace courts," is momoshiki no, a pillow word for "palace."
Second line, "many are the courtly folk," names ōmiyahito, people serving at court.
Third line, "many, and yet you," means though they are many, do being concessive.
Fourth line, "ride upon my heart alone," means weighing on, filling my heart.
Fifth line, "you, my love, are all I think of," means you who come to my mind, ending on a noun.
- Author
- Otomo no Yakamochi
- Source
- Manyoshu
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