我が舟は沖ゆな離り迎へ舟
方待ちがてり浦ゆ漕ぎ逢はむ
方待ちがてり浦ゆ漕ぎ逢はむ
- Roma-ji
-
Waga fune wa oki yu na sakari mukaebune katamachigateri ura yu kogiawamu
- English Translation
-
Do not drift, my boat,
far away out to the sea;
for the welcome boat
I will wait, and meanwhile row
along the bay to meet it
- Meaning
- My boat, do not drift away out to sea—while I wait for the boat coming to meet me, I will row along the bay to meet it.
- Commentary
-
Book Seven Miscellaneous Poems 1200
Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Composed on Journeys"
The poet asks his boat not to drift out to sea, meaning to row along the bay to meet the boat coming for him as he waits. The poem shows a heart eager for home, longing for the boat that will come to welcome him.
It is regarded as coming from the Old Collection, but its interpretation is disputed. The poet is unknown.
The first line, "Do not drift, my boat," begins with "waga fune wa," "my boat."
In the second line, "na" is prohibitive: "do not move away out to sea." The poem pauses here.
The third line, "for the welcome boat," refers to a boat coming to meet him.
In the fourth line, "gateri" means "while" or "at the same time as": "while waiting."
In the final line, "mu" expresses intention: "I will row along the bay to meet it."
- Source
- Manyoshu
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