Kono oka ni oshika fumiokoshi ukanerai kamokamo suraku kimi yue ni koso

この岡に小鹿踏み起しうかねらひ
かもかもすらく君故にこそ

Roma-ji: Kono oka ni oshika fumiokoshi ukanerai kamokamo suraku kimi yue ni koso
English Translation: Here upon this hill,
flushing out a little deer,
stalking it with care:
all my striving here and there,
it is all for your sake, lord
Meaning: Like a hunter on this hill who flushes a young deer and stalks it watchfully, all my striving this way and that is for your sake alone.
Commentary: Book Eight Autumn Miscellaneous Poems 1576

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Seven poems from a banquet at the house of the Minister of the Right, Tachibana"
Like a hunter on the hill who flushes a young deer and takes careful aim, the poet says all his striving this way and that is for his host's sake. Using a hunting scene as a figure, he expresses loyalty and devotion to Tachibana no Moroe, host of the banquet. The note says, "The above poem is by Koso no Ason Tsushima, governor of Nagato."
The author, Koso no Tsushima, was an official of the Nara period who served as governor of Nagato.

The first line is thought to refer to a hill near the banquet.
The second line, with an extra syllable, means "flushing a young deer lying in the grass."
The third line means "watching and taking aim"; the first three lines work as a preface leading to "kamokamo."
The fourth line means "doing this and that," describing someone exerting himself in every way.
The final line, with "koso," states firmly that it is for the host's sake, expressing respect for him.
Author: Koso no Tsushima
Source: Manyoshu
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