Yoshinogawa iwa to kashiwa to tokiwa nasu ware wa kayowamu yorozuyo made ni

吉野川巌と栢と常磐なす
我れは通はむ万代までに

Roma-ji: Yoshinogawa iwa to kashiwa to tokiwa nasu ware wa kayowamu yorozuyo made ni
English Translation: Yoshino River—
like its crags and oaks that stand
changeless evermore,
so shall I keep coming here
through ten thousand ages
Meaning: Like the crags and oaks by the Yoshino River that stand forever unchanging, I will keep coming here, for ten thousand ages.
Commentary: Book Seven Miscellaneous Poems 1134

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Composed at Yoshino"
The poet vows to keep coming to Yoshino for ten thousand ages, unchanging like the crags and oaks beside the Yoshino River. Likening himself to things eternal, he expresses praise for Yoshino and a pledge of service.
Like the preceding poem, it vows to visit Yoshino forever, and the two together close the group of poems praising Yoshino. The last line, "through ten thousand ages," is the same as in poem 1114 in this book. The poet is unknown.

The first line names the Yoshino River in southern Nara.
The second line, "like its crags and oaks," names the rocks and oaks by the river, both figures of permanence. "Kashiwa" may mean the oak or the Oriental arborvitae.
The third line, "tokiwa nasu," means "like an ever-unchanging rock."
In the fourth line, "so shall I keep coming here," "mu" expresses intention.
The final line, "through ten thousand ages," shared with poem 1114, expresses an eternal vow.
Source: Manyoshu
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