Asagoromo kireba natsukashi ki no kuni no imose no yama ni asa maku wagimo

麻衣着ればなつかし紀の国の
妹背の山に麻蒔く我妹

Roma-ji: Asagoromo kireba natsukashi ki no kuni no imose no yama ni asa maku wagimo
English Translation: My hempen robe,
when I wear it, how I yearn—
in the land of Ki
on the hills of Imose,
my dear, sowing hemp seed
Meaning: When I put on my hempen robe I am filled with longing—for the dear girl sowing hemp on the hills of Imose in the land of Kii.
Commentary: Book Seven Miscellaneous Poems 1195

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Composed on Journeys"
When he puts on his hempen robe, the poet feels a tender longing for the girl he saw sowing hemp seed on the Imose hills in Kii. Through the hemp robe he fondly recalls a girl glimpsed on his travels.
According to the left note it is one of the seven poems by Lord Fujiwara, and like the preceding poem it belongs to the journey to Kii. The Imose mountains also appear in poem 1193 in this book.
The author, "Fujiwara-kyō," is an honorific title for a senior noble of the Fujiwara clan. He is said to be either Fujiwara no Fusasaki or Fujiwara no Maro, and there is no settled view as to whom it refers.

The first line, "My hempen robe," refers to a garment of hemp cloth.
The second line, "when I wear it, how I yearn," pauses the poem.
The third line, "in the land of Ki," names Kii Province.
The fourth line names Mount Imo and Mount Se facing each other across the Ki River, sung in poem 1193.
The final line ends with the noun "wagimo" (my dear). The "hemp" of the first line and the "hemp" of the last echo each other.
Author: Lord Fujiwara
Source: Manyoshu
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