Uramikogu Kumanobune tsuki mezurashiku kakete omowanu tsuki mo hi mo nashi

浦廻漕ぐ熊野舟つきめづらしく
懸けて思はぬ月も日もなし

Roma-ji: Uramikogu Kumanobune tsuki mezurashiku kakete omowanu tsuki mo hi mo nashi
English Translation: Like the Kumano boat
rowing round the bay to land,
ever dear and new,
there is no month and no day
that I do not keep you in my heart
Meaning: As welcome as a Kumano boat rowing round the bay to come ashore, you are ever dear and new to me; there is no month or day I do not hold you in my heart.
Commentary: Book Twelve Thoughts Arising on Journeys 3172

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Thoughts Arising on Journeys"
As people delight in a Kumano boat rowing round the bay to come ashore, the poet holds the beloved ever dear and new, keeping them in mind every month and day. How the first two lines connect is debated, but the poem expresses unceasing longing by pairing months and days.
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, "uramikogu," means "rowing around the bay."
Line two, "Kumanobune tsuki," means "a boat of Kumano coming ashore," boats built at Kumano in Kii; the lines up to here are taken as an introduction leading to "mezurashiku," though how they connect is debated.
Line three, "mezurashiku," means "fresh and dear."
Line four, "kakete omowanu," means "not holding in my heart."
Line five, "tsuki mo hi mo nashi," means "there is no month or day," showing unceasing longing.
Author: Unknown
Source: Manyoshu
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