Muro no ura no seto no saki naru Nakishima no iso kosu nami ni nurenikeru kamo

室の浦の瀬戸の崎なる鳴島の
礒越す波に濡れにけるかも

Roma-ji: Muro no ura no seto no saki naru Nakishima no iso kosu nami ni nurenikeru kamo
English Translation: At the cape that guards
the strait of Muro Bay
lies Nakishima,
and the waves that break its rocks
have soaked me through and through
Meaning: At Nakishima by the cape of the strait in Muro Bay, the waves that break over its rocks have soaked me through.
Commentary: Book Twelve Thoughts Arising on Journeys 3164

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Thoughts Arising on Journeys"
The poet sings of being soaked by waves breaking over the rocks of Nakishima in Muro Bay. The name Nakishima is thought to echo "naku," to weep, overlaying the soaking by waves with sleeves wet with tears. It shares its final line with the preceding poem.
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, "Muro no ura no," is taken to mean "of Muro Bay," at Murotsu in Mitsu, Tatsuno, Hyōgo Prefecture, a hypermetric line of six syllables.
Line two, "seto no saki naru," means "at the cape of the strait."
Line three, "Nakishima no," is taken to be an island off Murotsu, its name echoing "naku," to cry.
Line four, "iso kosu nami ni," means "by the waves breaking over the rocks."
Line five, "nurenikeru kamo," means "I have been soaked," the same final line as the preceding poem.
Author: Unknown
Source: Manyoshu
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