Hitose ni wa chitabi sawarai yuku mizu no nochi ni mo awamu ima ni arazu tomo

一瀬には千たび障らひ行く水の
後にも逢はむ今にあらずとも

Roma-ji: Hitose ni wa chitabi sawarai yuku mizu no nochi ni mo awamu ima ni arazu tomo
English Translation: In a single shoal,
checked a thousand times, and yet
flowing on, the stream;
later, then, we too shall meet,
even if it is not now
Meaning: Like the stream that is checked a thousand times in a single shoal yet flows on, we shall meet later, even if not now.
Commentary: Book Four Love Poems 699

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Three poems by Ōtomo no Sukune Katami"
With water that flows on though checked a thousand times in a single shoal as its preface, he vows that they will meet later, even if not now. The stream that overcomes every obstacle stands for a love that endures. Its last line echoes "even if it is not now" at the end of Princess Takata's poem 541.
The author, Ōtomo no Katami, was an official of the Ōtomo clan.

First line, "In a single shoal," means in one stretch of rapids.
Second line, "checked a thousand times, and yet," means blocked a thousand times, conveying the many rocks in its way.
Third line, "flowing on, the stream," names the flowing water; the first three lines form a preface.
Fourth line, "later, then, we too shall meet," uses the volitional mu: let us meet later. The poem breaks after this line.
Fifth line, "even if it is not now," runs to eight syllables and echoes the last line of poem 541.
Author: Ōtomo no Katami
Source: Manyoshu
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