Amanogawa tōki watari wa nakeredomo kimi ga funade wa toshi ni koso mate

天の川遠き渡りはなけれども
君が舟出は年にこそ待て

Roma-ji: Amanogawa tōki watari wa nakeredomo kimi ga funade wa toshi ni koso mate
English Translation: The Heavenly River—
there's no distant crossing here,
and yet, even so,
for your boat to set out, love,
only once a year I wait.
Meaning: The crossing of the Heavenly River is not so far—and yet your setting out is something I can wait for only once a year.
Commentary: Book Ten Autumn Miscellaneous Poems 2055

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Tanabata"
This poem, in the Weaver's voice, laments that though the crossing of the Heavenly River is not far, she can wait for the Herdsman's departure only once a year. The contrast between the nearness of the distance and the rarity of meeting sets off the ache of a love divided by decree. It shares the feeling of 2007, which resented the age of gods that made the river a barrier, singing of the stars' relationship, so near and yet so far.

The first line, "the Heavenly River," names the river dividing the stars.
The second line, "a distant crossing," names what is lacking.
The third line, "nakeredomo," though there is none, uses the adversative "domo."
The fourth line, "your setting out," names what is awaited.
In the last line, "toshi ni koso mate," "koso" is an emphatic particle answered by the perfective "mate," stressing that she waits but once a year.
Source: Manyoshu
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