classic waka stream

荒磯越す波を畏み淡路島
見ずか過ぎなむここだ近きを
Roma-ji

Ariso kosu nami o kashikomi awajishima mizu ka suginamu kokoda chikaki o

English Translation
Fearing the great waves
that break across the rocky shore,
Awaji Island—
must I pass it by unseen,
though it lies so very near?
Meaning
Fearful of the waves that surge over the rugged shore, must I sail past Awaji Island without seeing it, though it lies so close at hand?
Commentary
Book Seven Miscellaneous Poems 1180

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Composed on Journeys"
Afraid of the waves that surge over the rocky shore, the poet regrets that he may sail past Awaji Island, so close at hand, without stopping. The poem expresses the frustration of a sea voyage that cannot approach a famous place right before one's eyes.
It is one of the poems composed on journeys, sharing the idea of poem 1174 in this book, which regrets passing the cape of Kashima because the waves are high. The poet is unknown.

The first line, "that break across the rocky shore," describes waves surging over the rugged rocks.
The second line, "Fearing the great waves," is a "-mi" form: "because the waves are fearsome."
The third line names Awaji Island, between the Harima Sea and Osaka Bay.
The fourth line, "must I pass it by unseen," is a kakari-musubi construction in which "ka" is answered by the attributive "namu," and the poem pauses here. It corresponds to "must I then go sailing past" in poem 1174.
In the final line, "kokoda" means "so very": "though it is so near."
Source
Manyoshu
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