Tatsu no ma o are wa motomemu aoniyoshi nara no miyako ni komu hito no tani

竜の馬を我れは求めむあをによし
奈良の都に来む人のたに

Roma-ji: Tatsu no ma o are wa motomemu aoniyoshi nara no miyako ni komu hito no tani
English Translation: A dragon horse,
I myself will seek one out,
blue-earthed and lovely,
for the one who is to come
to the capital of Nara
Meaning: I will go looking for a dragon horse myself, for you who are to come to the capital at Nara.
Commentary: Book Five Miscellaneous Poems 808

Headnote: "Two poems in reply"
The poem replies, "I will seek out a dragon horse, so that you may come to Nara." Answering Tabito's wish for a dragon horse in 806, the speaker offers to find the horse for him, showing the feelings of the one waiting in the capital.
This reply came from the capital; the author's name is not recorded and is unknown. It is thought to have been sent back by the acquaintance in the capital who received Tabito's letter and poems.

First line, "tatsu no ma o": takes up the opening of 806, "tatsu no ma mo," changing only "mo" to "o."
Second line, "are wa motomemu": "mu" expresses intent, "I will seek it," and the poem breaks here.
Third line, "aoniyoshi": a pillow word for Nara, the same word as in the third line of the poem it answers.
Fourth line, "Nara no miyako ni": also identical to the fourth line of the original poem, giving the exchange a formal symmetry.
Fifth line, "komu hito no tani": "tani" means "for the sake of": for the one who will come to the capital. Against the original's "to go and come back," the reply reverses the view to that of the one who welcomes "the one who will come."
Source: Manyoshu
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