Wata no soko oki kogu fune o he ni yosemu kaze mo fukanu ka nami tatezu shite

海の底沖漕ぐ舟を辺に寄せむ
風も吹かぬか波立てずして

Roma-ji: Wata no soko oki kogu fune o he ni yosemu kaze mo fukanu ka nami tatezu shite
English Translation: From the ocean's depths
the boat that rows far offshore
to bring to land—
would that a wind might blow,
without raising any waves
Meaning: If only a wind would blow to bring the boat rowing far offshore in toward the beach—without stirring up the waves.
Commentary: Book Seven Miscellaneous Poems 1223

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Composed on Journeys"
The poet wishes for a wind that would bring a boat rowing offshore in to the beach without raising the waves. Either the heart of one waiting for someone aboard, or the wish to bring one's own boat to land, is expressed as a longing for a gentle wind.
It is regarded as coming from the Old Collection. The poet is unknown.

The first line uses "wata no soko," the depths of the sea, as a pillow word for "oki" (offshore).
The second line, "the boat that rows far offshore," names the boat.
The third line, "to bring to land," modifies "wind" in the fourth line.
In the fourth line, "nu ka" expresses a wish: "would that a wind might blow." The poem pauses here.
The final line, "without raising any waves," adds the condition by inversion.
Source: Manyoshu
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