Koishinamu soko mo oyaji zo nani semu ni hitome hitogoto kochitami waga semu

恋ひ死なむそこも同じぞ何せむに
人目人言言痛み我がせむ

Roma-ji: Koishinamu soko mo oyaji zo nani semu ni hitome hitogoto kochitami waga semu
English Translation: If I die of love,
that will be the same, I say;
why then should I care,
fretting over watching eyes
and the tongues of those who talk
Meaning: Whether I die of love or of gossip, it is all the same; why should I fret over watching eyes and wagging tongues?
Commentary: Book Four Love Poems 748

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Fifteen more poems sent by Ōtomo no Sukune Yakamochi to the Elder Daughter of Sakanoue"
If dying of love and suffering from gossip come to the same thing, why should he fret over watching eyes and wagging tongues? He shows a resolve that does not fear rumor.
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, "If I die of love," means I shall die of love.
Second line, "that will be the same, I say," reads onaji as oyaji: that too is the same. The poem breaks after this line.
Third line, "why then should I care," means for what reason.
Fourth line, "fretting over watching eyes," names hitome and hitogoto, people's eyes and people's talk.
Fifth line, "and the tongues of those who talk," runs to eight syllables: should I be troubled by them? No.
Author: Otomo no Yakamochi
Source: Manyoshu
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