Miyakoji o tōmi ka imo ga kono koro wa ukeite nuredo ime ni miekonu

都路を遠みか妹がこのころは
うけひて寝れど夢に見え来ぬ

Roma-ji: Miyakoji o tōmi ka imo ga kono koro wa ukeite nuredo ime ni miekonu
English Translation: Is the road from Nara
too long for my wife to come;
in these days of late,
though I pray before I sleep,
she comes not into my dreams
Meaning: Is it because the road from the capital is so long that these days, though I pray before sleeping, my wife does not come into my dreams?
Commentary: Book Four Love Poems 767

Headnote: "Two more poems sent by Ōtomo no Sukune Yakamochi to the Elder Daughter"
This is the first of two poems sent from the Kuni capital to the Elder Daughter in Nara. Is it because the road from the capital is long that she does not appear in his dreams, though he prays before sleeping? he laments.
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 the road from Nara," names the road to the capital at Nara.
Second line, "too long for my wife to come," uses the questioning ka: is it because it is far?
Third line, "in these days of late," means these days.
Fourth line, "though I pray before I sleep," uses ukeu, "to pray to the gods": though I sleep praying.
Fifth line, "she comes not into my dreams," closes ka with the attributive nu.
Author: Otomo no Yakamochi
Source: Manyoshu
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