Aimite wa shimashi mo koi wa nagimu ka to omoedo iyoyo koimasarikeri

相見てはしましも恋はなぎむかと
思へどいよよ恋ひまさりけり

Roma-ji: Aimite wa shimashi mo koi wa nagimu ka to omoedo iyoyo koimasarikeri
English Translation: Once we'd met, I thought,
for a while my love, perhaps,
might grow calm and still;
so I thought, but more and more
has my longing only grown
Meaning: I thought that once we met my love might calm for a while, but it has only grown stronger than ever.
Commentary: Book Four Love Poems 753

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Fifteen more poems sent by Ōtomo no Sukune Yakamochi to the Elder Daughter of Sakanoue"
He thought that meeting her would quiet his love for a while, but it has only grown stronger. It captures the mystery of a love that deepens through meeting.
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, "Once we'd met, I thought," is the same as the first line of the preceding poem.
Second line, "for a while my love, perhaps," means even for a little while.
Third line, "might grow calm and still," uses nagu, "to calm": might it be calmed?
Fourth line, "so I thought, but more and more," means though I thought so, increasingly.
Fifth line, "has my longing only grown," uses keri for realization: my longing has grown.
Author: Otomo no Yakamochi
Source: Manyoshu
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