Yamanobe no ishi no mii wa onozukara nareru nishiki o hareru yama kamo

山辺の五十師の御井はおのづから
成れる錦を張れる山かも

Roma-ji: Yamanobe no ishi no mii wa onozukara nareru nishiki o hareru yama kamo
English Translation: At Yamanobe,
the sacred well of Ishi—
all of its own accord,
woven brocade spread across it:
what a mountain this is
Meaning: Around the sacred well of Ishi at Yamanobe rises a mountain hung, as if of its own accord, with a brocade woven by nature itself.
Commentary: Book Thirteen Miscellaneous Poems 3235

Headnote: "Envoy"
This is the envoy to the chōka (3234). It praises the hills around the sacred well of Ishi at Yamanobe in Ise as mountains adorned by autumn leaves as though brocade had been spread over them. The chōka praises the land of Ise in the manner of a land-viewing song—its mountains, rivers, sea and islands—and prays that the courtiers may flourish for ten thousand ages with heaven and earth, sun and moon; the envoy narrows its focus to the autumn hills around the well. It is thought to be a poem in praise of the land by someone attending an imperial progress.
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.

The first line, “Yamanobe no,” is a place name in Ise Province, said to be in present-day Suzuka or Tsu, Mie.
In the second line, “mii” is an honorific word for a well or spring, thought to be the well of the temporary palace on the imperial journey.
The third line, “onozukara,” means naturally, without human hand, and modifies “nareru” in the fourth line.
The fourth line, “nareru nishiki o,” means brocade that has formed by itself—a figure likening the leaf-colored slopes to woven brocade.
The closing line, “hareru yama kamo,” means “a mountain hung with brocade,” and the final “kamo” expresses wonder.
Source: Manyoshu
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