Kaku shite ya nao ya makaramu chikakaranu michi no aida o nazumi maikite

かくしてやなほや罷らむ近からぬ
道の間をなづみ参ゐ来て

Roma-ji: Kaku shite ya nao ya makaramu chikakaranu michi no aida o nazumi maikite
English Translation: Is it thus, like this,
that I must go back again,
having come so far,
all along a lengthy road,
toiling hard to reach your door
Meaning: Must I go back again like this, after toiling all this long way to come to you?
Commentary: Book Four Love Poems 700

Headnote: "A poem composed by Ōtomo no Sukune Yakamochi on arriving at a maiden's gate"
Having toiled along a long road to reach the maiden's gate, he laments that he may have to go back without meeting her. It frankly conveys the feelings of a man kept waiting at the door.
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, "Is it thus, like this," means in this way, ya marking a question.
Second line, "that I must go back again," uses makaru, "to withdraw": must I leave after all? The poem breaks after this line.
Third line, "having come so far," means not near.
Fourth line, "all along a lengthy road," means the length of the way.
Fifth line, "toiling hard to reach your door," uses nazumu, "to struggle along": having come with difficulty. By inversion it gives the reason for his lament.
Author: Otomo no Yakamochi
Source: Manyoshu
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