Ashihiki no yama sanakazura momitsu made imo ni awazu ya aga koioramu

あしひきの山さな葛もみつまで
妹に逢はずや我が恋ひ居らむ

Roma-ji: Ashihiki no yama sanakazura momitsu made imo ni awazu ya aga koioramu
English Translation: On the rugged hills
the sanakazura vine,
till it turns to red,
not meeting my darling still,
must I sit here yearning so?
Meaning: Until the sanakazura vines of the mountains turn color, must I go on longing, never meeting my beloved?
Commentary: Book Ten Autumn Love Poems 2296

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Love Expressed Through Autumn Leaves"
This poem laments whether the speaker must go on longing without meeting the beloved for the long time until the sanakazura vine on the mountain turns color. The season's progress in the vine's coloring shows the length of time apart. Following the kudzu leaves of the preceding poem, this one also sings of a vine turning color, so the two overlay the coloring of vines with the length of time apart.

The first line, "ashihiki no," is a pillow word attached to "mountain."
The second line, "the mountain sanakazura," names the vine.
In the third line, "momitsu made," "momitsu" means to turn color: until it turns.
In the fourth line, "imo ni awazu ya," "ya" is an interrogative particle in kakari-musubi with "mu" in the last line.
The last line, "aga koioramu," must I go on longing?, answers "ya."
Source: Manyoshu
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