Hisakata no ama no kawazu ni fune ukete kimi matsu yora wa akezu mo aranu ka

久方の天の川津に舟浮けて
君待つ夜らは明けずもあらぬか

Roma-ji: Hisakata no ama no kawazu ni fune ukete kimi matsu yora wa akezu mo aranu ka
English Translation: Far away the sky,
at the Heavenly River's ford
setting boat afloat,
this night I wait for you, love—
might it not come to its dawn?
Meaning: Setting a boat afloat at the ford of the Heavenly River, I wait for you tonight—if only this night would not end in dawn.
Commentary: Book Ten Autumn Miscellaneous Poems 2070

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Tanabata"
This poem, in the Weaver's voice, sets a boat afloat at the ford of the Heavenly River and wishes that the night of waiting for the Herdsman would not end. Fear of the meeting night dawning shows even while she is still waiting. Whereas 1882, "kurezu mo aranu ka," wished a happy day would not end, this poem wishes a night of waiting would not dawn, a correspondence of day and night.

The first line, "hisakata no," is a pillow word attached to "heaven."
In the second line, "ama no kawazu ni," "tsu" means a ford.
The third line, "setting a boat afloat," describes the preparation.
In the fourth line, "kimi matsu yora wa," "ra" is a suffix: the night I wait for you.
In the last line, "akezu mo aranu ka," "nu ka" is a negative question expressing a wish; the line is hypermetric and closes with the wish that the night not dawn.
Source: Manyoshu
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