Yama koete tōtsu no hama no iwatsutsuji waga kuru made ni fufumite ari mate

山越えて遠津の浜の岩つつじ
我が来るまでにふふみてあり待て

Roma-ji: Yama koete tōtsu no hama no iwatsutsuji waga kuru made ni fufumite ari mate
English Translation: Over the mountains,
on the beach of distant Tōtsu,
O rock azaleas,
until I come back again
stay in bud and wait for me
Meaning: Rock azaleas of Tōtsu beach beyond the mountains—until I come back again, stay in bud and wait for me.
Commentary: Book Seven Miscellaneous Poems 1188

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Composed on Journeys"
The poet calls on the rock azaleas of Tōtsu beach to stay in bud without blooming until he comes back. Wishing to see the flowers again on his return, he hopes to witness them at their height. Some read the azaleas as a figure for a woman waiting at home.
It is one of the poems composed on journeys; the location of Tōtsu beach is uncertain. The poet is unknown.

The first line, "Over the mountains," shows the place lies far off and leads to "Tōtsu" (the distant harbor).
The second line names Tōtsu beach, whose location is uncertain; "tō" echoes the sense of distance.
The third line, "O rock azaleas," refers to azaleas blooming among the rocks.
The fourth line, "until I come back again," sets the time.
In the final line, "fufumu" means to remain in bud, and "ari mate" is a command: "keep waiting."
Source: Manyoshu
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