Tamahoko no michiyukiburi ni omowanu ni imo o aimite kōru koro kamo

玉桙の道行きぶりに思はぬに
妹を相見て恋ふるころかも

Roma-ji: Tamahoko no michiyukiburi ni omowanu ni imo o aimite kōru koro kamo
English Translation: On the jeweled spear-road,
as I happened to pass by,
though I never thought,
I caught sight of a fair girl,
and these days I long for her
Meaning: As I went along the road, I happened, quite unexpectedly, to see a girl, and in these days I find myself longing for her.
Commentary: Book Eleven Love Poems Ancient and Modern I 2605

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Expressing One's Feelings Directly"
A man tells how he chanced to see a lovely girl as he passed along the road, and has longed for her ever since. With a sigh of feeling, he describes his bewilderment at a love that began from a passing encounter and will not leave his heart.
"Tamahoko no" is the pillow word also found in poem 2598 of this book, where it is attached to "village," whereas here it is attached to "road," its usual partner. Against the poems on long-lasting or hidden love before it, this poem speaks of the beginning of love.
The author is unknown. The anonymous poems of Book Eleven gather love poems by people whose names have not come down to us.

First line, "tamahoko no": a pillow word attached to "road." Tamahoko is thought to mean a spear adorned with jewels, and there are various theories as to why it leads into "road."
Second line, "michiyukiburi ni": "while passing along the road." "Michiyukiburi" means in passing on the way, marking the meeting as chance.
Third line, "omowanu ni": "unexpectedly." It shows that the encounter was one he had not anticipated.
Fourth line, "imo o aimite": "seeing my girl." "Aimiru" means to see each other, here to come face to face or meet.
Fifth line, "kōru koro kamo": "how I long for her these days!" "Kamo" is an exclamatory particle, quietly stating that his love has continued since the meeting.
Source: Manyoshu
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