Ashihiki no yamagawa mizu no oto ni idezu hito no ko yue ni koiwataru kamo

あしひきの山川水の音に出でず
人の子ゆゑに恋ひわたるかも

Roma-ji: Ashihiki no yamagawa mizu no oto ni idezu hito no ko yue ni koiwataru kamo
English Translation: Unlike the waters
of a foot-wearying mountain stream,
I make no sound,
yet for another's daughter
I go on longing still
Meaning: Unlike the rushing waters of a mountain stream, I say nothing aloud, yet I go on longing for another family's daughter.
Commentary: Book Twelve Expressing Thoughts through Things 3017

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Expressing Thoughts through Things"
Using the sound of a mountain stream as an introduction, the poem sings of a secret love for another family's daughter, never voiced aloud. In contrast to "people have come to know" in the preceding poem, it depicts a love kept hidden from others.
The poet is unknown. Book Twelve, titled the second part of "Love Poems Exchanged Old and New," gathers love poems by people whose names have not come down to us, arranged by category.

Line one, "ashihiki no," is a pillow word for "yama," mountain.
Line two, "yamagawa mizu no," means "of mountain stream water," and the lines up to here form an introduction leading through the water's sound to "oto," sound.
Line three, "oto ni idezu," means "without voicing it."
Line four, "hito no ko yue ni," means "for another's daughter."
Line five, "koiwataru kamo," means "I go on longing."
Author: Unknown
Source: Manyoshu
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