Amanogawa se o hayami ka mo nubatama no yo wa fukenitsutsu awanu hikoboshi

天の川瀬を早みかもぬばたまの
夜は更けにつつ逢はぬ彦星

Roma-ji: Amanogawa se o hayami ka mo nubatama no yo wa fukenitsutsu awanu hikoboshi
English Translation: The Heavenly River—
are its shoals too swift, perhaps?
black as leopard-seeds,
the night grows ever later,
and the Herdsman has not met her.
Meaning: Is it because the currents of the Heavenly River run so swift? The black night grows ever later, and still the Herdsman has not met her.
Commentary: Book Ten Autumn Miscellaneous Poems 2076

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Tanabata"
This poem feels for the Herdsman, who perhaps because the Heavenly River's currents run swift has still not met the Weaver though the night grows late. From a third person's position, it sympathizes with the Herdsman's frustration at being hindered. It shares the lament of 2018, in which the Herdsman himself lamented the night growing late while searching for the ford, so the lament of difficult crossings delaying the meeting recurs.

The first line, "the Heavenly River," names the river dividing the stars.
In the second line, "se o hayami ka mo," "mi" marks cause and "ka mo" a question: is it because the shoals are swift?
The third line, "nubatama no," is a pillow word attached to "night."
In the fourth line, "yo wa fukenitsutsu," "tsutsu" marks continuation: while the night grows late.
The last line, "the Herdsman who has not met her," ends on a noun, closing with sympathy for the Herdsman.
Source: Manyoshu
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