Kono kawa yu fune wa yukubeku ari to iedo watarize goto ni moru hito no arite

この川ゆ舟は行くべくありといへど
渡り瀬ごとに守る人のありて

Roma-ji: Kono kawa yu fune wa yukubeku ari to iedo watarize goto ni moru hito no arite
English Translation: Along this river
a boat could make its way,
or so they say,
yet at every crossing ford
there are watchers standing guard
Meaning: They say a boat could pass along this river—yet at every ford there are people keeping watch.
Commentary: Book Seven Allegorical Poems 1307

Headnote: "On Rivers"
They say a boat can pass along this river, yet at every ford there are watchers. Boating along the river stands for fulfilling love, and the watchers at the fords for the woman's parents and others who guard her, so the poem is taken to express the frustration of a love that seems within reach but is blocked by watchful eyes.
It is the single poem under the heading "On Rivers." The last line breaks off with "arite," "there being," leaving a lingering feeling. According to the left note it comes from the Kakinomoto no Hitomaro Collection.

In the first line, "Along this river," "yu" indicates the route.
The second line, "a boat could make its way," means a boat could go.
The third line, "or so they say," is concessive and has an extra syllable.
The fourth line, "yet at every crossing ford," refers to each of the shallows.
The final line, "there are watchers standing guard," has an extra syllable and breaks off, leaving the lament of not meeting unspoken.
Source: Manyoshu
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