Asukagawa seze ni tamamo wa oitaredo shigarami areba nabikiawanaku ni

明日香川瀬々に玉藻は生ひたれど
しがらみあれば靡きあはなくに

Roma-ji: Asukagawa seze ni tamamo wa oitaredo shigarami areba nabikiawanaku ni
English Translation: Asuka River—
in each shallow the jewel weed
grows there thick and fair,
yet with weirs set in between
they cannot sway to each other
Meaning: In every shallow of the Asuka River the lovely waterweed grows, yet because of the weirs set across the stream, they cannot sway together.
Commentary: Book Seven Allegorical Poems 1380

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "On Rivers"
Lovely waterweed grows in every shallow of the Asuka River, yet because of the weirs the strands cannot sway toward each other. The weed stands for two people who love each other and the weirs for whatever stands between them, expressing the grief of hearts drawn together that still cannot be joined.
Like the preceding poem, it takes up the Asuka River. Where that poem fears the river standing still, here the weirs that dam the current are the obstacles to love. The poet is unknown.

The first line, "Asuka River," corresponds to "the river of Asuka" in the second line of the preceding poem.
The second line, "in each shallow the jewel weed," refers to lovely waterweed in every shallow.
The third line, "grows there thick and fair," is concessive: "though it grows."
The fourth line, "yet with weirs set in between," stands for the obstacles separating the two.
In the final line, "naku ni" joins negation with a sigh: "they do not sway together."
Source: Manyoshu
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