Kasugano ni asa iru kumo no shikushiku ni are wa koimasu tsuki ni hi ni ke ni

春日野に朝居る雲のしくしくに
我れは恋ひ増す月に日に異に

Roma-ji: Kasugano ni asa iru kumo no shikushiku ni are wa koimasu tsuki ni hi ni ke ni
English Translation: On Kasuga's plain
as the morning clouds hang low,
fold on fold they lie;
so my longing only grows,
more with every month and day
Meaning: Like the morning clouds that lie fold upon fold over Kasuga plain, my love grows ever greater, month by month and day by day.
Commentary: Book Four Love Poems 698

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Three poems by Ōtomo no Sukune Katami"
As the morning clouds lie fold on fold over Kasuga plain, his longing ceaselessly grows. Like Nakatomi no Iratsume's poem 677, it takes the morning clouds of Kasuga as its preface, and its last line, "more with every month and day," is the same as Lady Kasa's poem 598, sharing words with other poems.
The author, Ōtomo no Katami, was an official of the Ōtomo clan.

First line, "On Kasuga's plain," names the plain of Kasuga.
Second line, "as the morning clouds hang low," is the same line as the second of poem 677.
Third line, "fold on fold they lie," means again and again, taking up the preface.
Fourth line, "so my longing only grows," means my love increases; the poem breaks after this line.
Fifth line, "more with every month and day," is the same last line as poem 598.
Author: Ōtomo no Katami
Source: Manyoshu
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