Utsusemi no inochi o nagaku ari koso to tomareru ware wa iwaite matamu

うつせみの命を長くありこそと
留まれる我れは斎ひて待たむ

Roma-ji: Utsusemi no inochi o nagaku ari koso to tomareru ware wa iwaite matamu
English Translation: That your mortal life
may be long, unbroken still—
so I pray, and I
who stay behind will keep the rites
and wait for your return
Meaning: Praying that your life in this world may be long, I who remain behind will keep myself pure for the gods and wait for you.
Commentary: Book Thirteen Love Poems 3292

Headnote: "Envoy"
This is the envoy to the chōka (3291). The wife left behind, praying for the life of her husband who departs as a provincial governor, resolves to purify herself, pray to the gods and wait for his return. The chōka laments parting from one who goes off at the sovereign’s command to govern a far province, not knowing what to say or what to do. The envoy turns from lament to the resolve and prayer of one who waits.
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, “utsusemi no,” means “of this world, of living people,” also working as a pillow word for “life.”
The second line, “inochi o nagaku,” means “that life may be long,” praying first of all for the traveler’s safety.
In the third line, “koso” is a particle of wish: “may it be so,” giving the words of prayer.
The fourth line, “tomareru ware wa,” means “I who remain,” with “ru” the attributive of the stative “ri”; it takes up the chōka’s “I who am left behind.”
In the closing line, “iwau” means to keep oneself pure and pray to the gods, and the intentional “mu” seals her resolve to wait.
Source: Manyoshu
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