Aga koi wa chibiki no iwa o nana bakari kubi ni kakemu mo kami no manimani

我が恋は千引の石を七ばかり
首に懸けむも神のまにまに

Roma-ji: Aga koi wa chibiki no iwa o nana bakari kubi ni kakemu mo kami no manimani
English Translation: This great love of mine,
like a thousand-hauler rock,
seven such as that,
hung around my neck, I'll bear it;
as the gods would have it be
Meaning: My love is as heavy as seven boulders that take a thousand men to haul, hung around my neck, yet I will bear it as the gods decree.
Commentary: Book Four Love Poems 743

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Fifteen more poems sent by Ōtomo no Sukune Yakamochi to the Elder Daughter of Sakanoue"
With bold hyperbole he likens the burden of love to seven boulders, each needing a thousand men to haul, hung around his neck, and closes by accepting it as the will of the gods.
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, "This great love of mine," means my love.
Second line, "like a thousand-hauler rock," names chibiki no iwa, a boulder a thousand men must pull.
Third line, "seven such as that," means about seven.
Fourth line, "hung around my neck, I'll bear it," means even to hang them on my neck.
Fifth line, "as the gods would have it be," means according to the gods' will, accepting love's burden as fate.
Author: Otomo no Yakamochi
Source: Manyoshu
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