Shibashiba mo aiminu kimi o amanogawa funade haya seyo yo no fukenu ma ni

しばしばも相見ぬ君を天の川
舟出早せよ夜の更けぬ間に

Roma-ji: Shibashiba mo aiminu kimi o amanogawa funade haya seyo yo no fukenu ma ni
English Translation: Seldom, seldom still
you and I can ever meet—
the Heavenly River,
set your boat out quickly now,
while the night is not yet late.
Meaning: You are one I can so seldom meet—so set your boat out quickly on the Heavenly River, before the night grows late.
Commentary: Book Ten Autumn Miscellaneous Poems 2042

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Tanabata"
This poem, in the Weaver's voice, urges a beloved she can seldom meet to set out quickly before the night grows late. It shows an earnest wish to spend as long as possible together within the limited time of a yearly meeting. Whereas 2018 lamented the night growing late, this poem is sung from the side that urges departure before that happens. It shares the anxiety of "before the night grows late" in 1822 of the spring poems.

The first line, "shibashiba mo," often, takes a negative below.
The second line, "you whom I rarely meet," names the beloved.
The third line, "the Heavenly River," names the river of departure.
The fourth line, "set out quickly," is an imperative expressing a plea.
The last line, "before the night grows late," gives by inversion the reason for haste.
Source: Manyoshu
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