Amanogawa kiri tachiwatari hikoboshi no kaji no oto kikoyu yo no fukeyukeba

天の川霧立ちわたり彦星の
楫の音聞こゆ夜の更けゆけば

Roma-ji: Amanogawa kiri tachiwatari hikoboshi no kaji no oto kikoyu yo no fukeyukeba
English Translation: The Heavenly River,
all across it rises mist;
of the Herdsman Star
I can hear the sound of oars,
as the night grows ever late.
Meaning: Mist spreads over the Heavenly River, and I hear the sound of the Herdsman's oars, as the night grows late.
Commentary: Book Ten Autumn Miscellaneous Poems 2044

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Tanabata"
This poem sings of hearing the sound of the Herdsman's oars from the mist-covered Heavenly River as the night deepens. The composition, in which the mist hides his form and his crossing is known only by sound, carries a mysterious nocturnal atmosphere. Following 2015 and 2029, the motif of knowing the meeting by the sound of oars recurs.

The first line, "the Heavenly River," names the river dividing the stars.
The second line, "mist spreading across," describes the scene.
The third line, "of the Herdsman," names the one crossing.
The fourth line, "the sound of oars is heard," breaks the poem after the fourth line.
In the last line, "yo no fukeyukeba," "ba" is an established condition: as the night grows late. By inversion it gives the time at the end.
Source: Manyoshu
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