Amanogawa kawato yaso ari izuku ni ka kimi ga mifune o waga machioramu

天の川川門八十ありいづくにか
君がみ舟を我が待ち居らむ

Roma-ji: Amanogawa kawato yaso ari izuku ni ka kimi ga mifune o waga machioramu
English Translation: The Heavenly River,
river-gates, it has eighty;
at which of them, where,
for your boat, my dearest one,
should I wait to welcome you?
Meaning: The Heavenly River has countless crossings—at which one should I wait for your boat?
Commentary: Book Ten Autumn Miscellaneous Poems 2082

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Tanabata"
This poem, in the Weaver's voice, frets over where to wait for the Herdsman's boat, since the Heavenly River has so many crossings. The heart that wavers over where to wait, longing only to meet, shows touchingly. Like "yaso no funatsu," the many landings, in 2046, it sings of the multitude of the Heavenly River's crossings.

The first line, "the Heavenly River," names the river dividing the stars.
In the second line, "kawato yaso ari," "yaso" means many: there are many crossings. The poem breaks here.
In the third line, "izuku ni ka," "ka" is an interrogative particle in kakari-musubi with "mu" in the last line.
In the fourth line, "kimi ga mifune o," "mi" is an honorific prefix.
The last line, "waga machioramu," where shall I wait?, closes with a wavering heart.
Source: Manyoshu
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