Chihayaburu kane no misaki o suginu tomo ware wa wasureji shika no sumegami

ちはやぶる鐘の岬を過ぎぬとも
我れは忘れじ志賀の皇神

Roma-ji: Chihayaburu kane no misaki o suginu tomo ware wa wasureji shika no sumegami
English Translation: Though I've sailed beyond
the fierce and mighty cape of Kane,
I will not forget,
never shall I forget you,
O great god of Shika
Meaning: Though I have safely passed the fierce cape of Kane, I will never forget you, O mighty god of Shika.
Commentary: Book Seven Miscellaneous Poems 1230

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Composed on Journeys"
Even after safely passing the cape of Kane, a perilous point on the sea route, the poet vows never to forget the favor of the god of Shika who guards the sea lanes. The poem is filled with gratitude and awe toward the god of the sea.
It is regarded as coming from the Old Collection. The cape of Kane is Kanezaki in Chikuzen, and the god of Shika, worshipped on Shika Island, was revered as a guardian of voyages. The poem is seen as an offering to the god. The poet is unknown.

The first line uses "chihayaburu," fierce and mighty, a pillow word for gods and violent things; here it describes the dangerous cape.
The second line names Kanezaki in Chikuzen, known as a hazard to shipping.
In the third line, "tomo" is a concessive hypothetical: "even though I pass it."
In the fourth line, "ji" is the negative volitional: "I will not forget." The poem pauses here.
The final line ends with the noun naming the sea god worshipped on Shika Island.
Source: Manyoshu
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