Hito mo naki kuni mo aranu ka wagimoko to tazusawari yukite taguite oramu

人もなき国もあらぬか我妹子と
たづさはり行きて副ひて居らむ

Roma-ji: Hito mo naki kuni mo aranu ka wagimoko to tazusawari yukite taguite oramu
English Translation: Is there not a land
where no people ever dwell;
with my dearest one
hand in hand I'd journey there,
and remain there side by side
Meaning: If only there were a land without people; I would go there hand in hand with my beloved and live close beside her.
Commentary: Book Four Love Poems 728

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Two poems sent by Ōtomo no Sukune Yakamochi to the Elder Daughter of the Sakanoue house"
If only there were a land without people, he would go there hand in hand with his beloved and live close beside her. It frankly expresses a longing for a world free of watching eyes and gossip.
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 there not a land," means without people.
Second line, "where no people ever dwell," uses the wishful nu ka: is there no such land? The poem breaks after this line.
Third line, "with my dearest one," means with my beloved.
Fourth line, "hand in hand I'd journey there," runs to eight syllables: going hand in hand.
Fifth line, "and remain there side by side," uses the volitional mu: I would stay close to her.
Author: Otomo no Yakamochi
Source: Manyoshu
Prev Poem: Wasuregusa waga shitahimo ni tsuketaredo shiko no shikokusa koto ni shi arikeri
Next Poem: Tama naraba te ni mo makamu o utsusemi no yo no hito nareba te ni makikatashi