Torijimono umi ni ukiite okitsu nami sawaku o kikeba amata kanashi mo

鳥じもの海に浮き居て沖つ波
騒くを聞けばあまた悲しも

Roma-ji: Torijimono umi ni ukiite okitsu nami sawaku o kikeba amata kanashi mo
English Translation: Like the waterbirds
I float upon the open sea,
and the offshore waves,
when I hear their restless roar,
fill me with deep sorrow
Meaning: Floating on the sea like a waterbird, I hear the offshore waves roaring, and a deep sadness comes over me.
Commentary: Book Seven Miscellaneous Poems 1184

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Composed on Journeys"
Aboard a boat floating on the sea like a waterbird, the poet grows unbearably sad as he listens to the offshore waves roar. The unease of a precarious voyage and the loneliness of being far from home are frankly expressed.
It is one of the poems composed on journeys, singing of the forlornness of travel at sea. The poet is unknown.

In the first line, "torijimono" means "like a bird," "jimono" meaning "as something like."
The second line, "I float upon the open sea," likens the poet aboard ship to a waterbird.
The third line refers to the waves far offshore.
The fourth line, "when I hear their restless roar," gives the condition.
In the final line, "amata" means "greatly": "how deeply sad I am!"
Source: Manyoshu
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