Ōbune ni makaji shijinuki kogidenaba oki wa fukakemu shio wa hinu tomo

大船に真楫しじ貫き漕ぎ出なば
沖は深けむ潮は干ぬとも

Roma-ji: Ōbune ni makaji shijinuki kogidenaba oki wa fukakemu shio wa hinu tomo
English Translation: On a mighty ship
with oars set thick on either side,
if we should row out,
deep indeed the open sea,
even though the tide ebb low
Meaning: If we set out in a great ship with oars set thick along both sides, the open sea will be deep—even though the tide should ebb.
Commentary: Book Seven Allegorical Poems 1386

Headnote: "On the Sea"
The poet says that if one rows out in a great ship with oars set thick along both sides, the open sea will be deep even if the tide ebbs. Rowing out stands for boldly embarking on love, and the depth of the open sea for the depth of the bond between the two.
It is the first poem under the heading "On the Sea," which covers six poems. The first line, "On a mighty ship," is the same as in poem 1254 in this book. The poet is unknown.

The first line, "On a mighty ship," names a great vessel.
The second line, "with oars set thick on either side," describes a fully manned ship.
The third line, "if we should row out," stands for boldly embarking on love.
The fourth line, "deep indeed the open sea," is a conjecture, and the poem pauses here.
The final line, "even though the tide ebb low," is placed after by inversion.
Source: Manyoshu
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