Igushi tate miwa sue matsuru hōribe ga uzu no tamakage mireba tomoshi mo

斎串立てみわ据ゑ奉る祝部が
うずの玉かげ見ればともしも

Roma-ji: Igushi tate miwa sue matsuru hōribe ga uzu no tamakage mireba tomoshi mo
English Translation: Sacred wands set up,
wine jars placed in offering—
the priests at worship,
their jeweled garlands in their hair:
seeing them, how my heart is drawn
Meaning: When I see the shrine priests who set up sacred wands and place jars of holy wine as offerings, with jeweled garlands in their hair, my heart is drawn to them.
Commentary: Book Thirteen Miscellaneous Poems 3229

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Envoy"
This is the second envoy following the chōka (3227). Focusing on the head ornaments—the “uzu” and the jeweled garlands—of the priests serving at the festival, it says that their purity draws the heart. The left note reads: “The three poems above; but a certain book does not include this one short poem,” so this envoy is missing from that text. Where the preceding poem vowed eternal love through the cedar, this one turns its gaze to the people standing at the rite.
The poet is unknown. Book Thirteen is built mainly of anonymous chōka and their envoys, and many of its poems preserve the air of old songs and ritual verse.

In the first line, “igushi” are purified wands used in rituals, thought to be sakaki or bamboo hung with offerings.
In the second line, “miwa” is wine offered to the gods or the jar holding it, a word that also recalls the name of Mount Miwa. “Matsuru” is a humble auxiliary expressing service to the deity.
In the third line, “hōribe” are those who serve the gods and conduct rites; the particle “ga” here works like “no,” linking to the noun that follows.
In the fourth line, “uzu” is an ornament placed in the hair or headdress, and “tamakage” a jewel-like garland, sometimes taken to be club moss.
In the closing line, “tomoshi” means to be drawn to or envious of, and the final particle “mo” adds a sigh of feeling.
Source: Manyoshu
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