Otomera ga oru hata no ue o makushi mochi kakage takushima nami no ma yu miyu

娘子らが織る機の上を真櫛もち
掻上げ栲島波の間ゆ見ゆ

Roma-ji: Otomera ga oru hata no ue o makushi mochi kakage takushima nami no ma yu miyu
English Translation: The maidens weaving,
over the loom's threads they draw
their fine combs,
raising them—Takushima
seen between the waves
Meaning: Takushima—named as though for the maidens who comb up the threads on their looms—can be seen between the waves.
Commentary: Book Seven Miscellaneous Poems 1233

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Composed on Journeys"
From the first line to "raising" in the fourth, the poem forms an introductory phrase in which maidens comb up threads on their looms, leading to "Takushima," and it tells of seeing that island between the waves. The graceful introduction, evoking girls at their weaving, sets off the island scene.
It is regarded as coming from the Old Collection. Takushima is thought to be an island in Izumo. The last line, "seen between the waves," is the same as in poem 1194 in this book. The poet is unknown.

The first line, "The maidens weaving," refers to young women at the loom.
The second line, "over the loom's threads they draw," has an extra syllable.
The third line, "their fine combs," means using combs.
The fourth line leads from "kakage" (raising up the threads) into "Takushima." The first line up to here forms the introductory phrase.
The final line, "seen between the waves," is shared with poem 1194.
Source: Manyoshu
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