Naniwagata shiohi ni tachite miwataseba awaji no shima ni tazu wataru miyu

難波潟潮干に立ちて見わたせば
淡路の島に鶴渡る見ゆ

Roma-ji: Naniwagata shiohi ni tachite miwataseba awaji no shima ni tazu wataru miyu
English Translation: On Naniwa's strand
standing where the tide has ebbed,
I gaze out afar
and toward Awaji Island
I see the cranes fly across
Meaning: Standing on the tide flats of Naniwa and gazing far out, I see cranes flying across toward Awaji Island.
Commentary: Book Seven Miscellaneous Poems 1160

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Composed in Settsu"
Standing on the tide flats of Naniwa and gazing far into the distance, the poet sees cranes flying across toward Awaji Island. It is a grand landscape poem capturing the flight of cranes against a broad expanse of sea and sky.
It is the last of the poems composed in Settsu, closing the group on the Suminoe shore with a wide view from Naniwa toward Awaji Island. The poet is unknown.

The first line, "On Naniwa's strand," names the tidal flats on the Naniwa coast.
The second line, "standing where the tide has ebbed," places the poet on the exposed flats.
The third line, "I gaze out afar," is a conditional of fact: "when I look out over the distance."
The fourth line, "toward Awaji Island," gives the direction of flight.
The final line, "I see the cranes fly across," ends with "miyu," presenting the scene before his eyes.
Source: Manyoshu
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