Wagimoko ni ōsakayama no hadasusuki ho ni wa sakidezu koiwataru ka mo

我妹子に逢坂山のはだすすき
穂には咲き出ず恋ひわたるかも

Roma-ji: Wagimoko ni ōsakayama no hadasusuki ho ni wa sakidezu koiwataru ka mo
English Translation: To meet my darling,
Ōsaka, the Meeting Slope,
its pampas grass there—
not blooming out in its plumes,
on and on I go on longing.
Meaning: Like the pampas grass of Mount Ōsaka, whose name speaks of meeting my beloved, I go on longing without letting it show in plumes.
Commentary: Book Ten Autumn Love Poems 2283

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Love Expressed Through Flowers"
This poem sings of going on longing without letting it show, as the pampas grass of Mount Ōsaka does not put forth its plumes. Drawing "au," to meet, from "wagimoko ni" to form "Ōsakayama," it packs the wish to meet the beloved into the place name. Like "a love that does not blossom in plumes" in 2275, it sings of a hidden love not shown outwardly.

The first line, "wagimoko ni," to my beloved, leads into "au," to meet.
The second line, "of Mount Ōsaka," names the mountain on the Yamashiro-Ōmi border, punning on "au."
The third line, "hadasusuki," pampas grass in plume, with the upper lines forming a preface leading into "ho," plume.
The fourth line, "not blooming out in plumes," shows feelings not revealed.
In the last line, "koiwataru ka mo," "wataru" means to continue and "ka mo" is exclamatory.
Source: Manyoshu
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