Araikinu Torikaigawa no kawayodo no yodomamu kokoro omoikanetsu mo

洗ひ衣取替川の川淀の
淀まむ心思ひかねつも

Roma-ji: Araikinu Torikaigawa no kawayodo no yodomamu kokoro omoikanetsu mo
English Translation: Like the still pool
of Torikai, the river
where washed robes are changed,
a heart that falters, wavers,
I could never think to have
Meaning: Like the still pool in the Torikai River, named for changing freshly washed robes, a heart that falters and hesitates is something I could never have.
Commentary: Book Twelve Expressing Thoughts through Things 3019

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Expressing Thoughts through Things"
Using a still pool in the Torikai River as an introduction, the poet vows unchanging love, declaring that a heart that falters in its visits is unthinkable. Using "yodomu," to stagnate, for interrupted visits is an expression repeated in this book.
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, "araikinu," a washed robe, is a pillow word for "Torikaigawa," from the changing of robes.
Line two, "Torikaigawa no," means "of the Torikai River," whose location is debated.
Line three, "kawayodo no," means "of the river's still pool," and the lines up to here form an introduction leading to "yodomu."
Line four, "yodomamu kokoro," means "a heart that would falter," using "yodomu" for interrupted visits, as in poems 2988 and 2998 in this book.
Line five, "omoikanetsu mo," means "I cannot even imagine it," vowing never to change.
Author: Unknown
Source: Manyoshu
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