Ime ni dani miemu to ware wa hodokedomo ai shi omowaneba ube miezu aramu

夢にだに見えむと我れはほどけども
相し思はねばうべ見えずあらむ

Roma-ji: Ime ni dani miemu to ware wa hodokedomo ai shi omowaneba ube miezu aramu
English Translation: In a dream, at least,
hoping you'll appear, I loose
my cords as I sleep;
but since you don't think of me,
no wonder you do not come
Meaning: Hoping you will at least appear in my dreams, I untie my cords before sleeping; but since you do not love me in return, no wonder you do not appear.
Commentary: Book Four Love Poems 772

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Five poems sent by Ōtomo no Sukune Yakamochi from the Kuni capital to the Elder Daughter of Sakanoue"
He unties his cords before sleeping so that she may at least appear in his dreams, but since she does not love him in return, no wonder she does not appear. It draws on the belief that loosening one's cords at bedtime brings the beloved in dreams.
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, "In a dream, at least," uses dani, "at least."
Second line, "hoping you'll appear, I loose," means that you may appear, I.
Third line, "my cords as I sleep," uses hodoku, "to untie": though I untie them.
Fourth line, "but since you don't think of me," runs to eight syllables: since we do not love each other.
Fifth line, "no wonder you do not come," runs to eight syllables: of course you do not appear.
Author: Otomo no Yakamochi
Source: Manyoshu
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