Isonokami furu no wasada o hidezu tomo nawa dani haeyo moritsutsu oramu

石上布留の早稲田を秀でずとも
縄だに延へよ守りつつ居らむ

Roma-ji: Isonokami furu no wasada o hidezu tomo nawa dani haeyo moritsutsu oramu
English Translation: At Isonokami
the early rice of Furu—
though not yet in ear,
at least stretch a rope around,
and I will keep watch meanwhile
Meaning: The early rice fields of Furu in Isonokami—though the ears have not yet come out, at least stretch a rope around them, and I will keep watch in the meantime.
Commentary: Book Seven Allegorical Poems 1353

Headnote: "On Rice"
Though the early rice of Furu has not yet come into ear, the speaker urges that at least a rope be stretched around the field, saying he will keep watch meanwhile. The early rice field stands for a girl still young, coming into ear for her growing up, and stretching a rope for betrothal that marks her as one's own. Some read it as a parent addressing a suitor.
It is the only poem under the heading "On Rice." Marking something as one's own with a rope connects with the motif of markers in the preceding poems on grasses. The poet is unknown.

The first line uses "Isonokami" as a pillow word for Furu, a place within Isonokami.
The second line refers to the early rice fields of Furu in Yamabe District of Yamato.
The third line, "though not yet in ear," means the ears have not appeared.
In the fourth line, "dani" marks a minimum wish: "at least stretch a rope." The poem pauses here; the rope is a marker rope, the same motif as in poem 1342 in this book and others.
The final line, "and I will keep watch meanwhile," states the speaker's resolve.
Source: Manyoshu
Prev Poem: Aga kokoro yuta ni tayuta ni ukinunawa he ni mo oki ni mo yorikatsumashiji
Next Poem: Shirasuge no mano no harihara kokoro yu mo omowanu ware shi koromo ni suritsu