Ashigara no misaka kashikomi kumoriyo no a ga shitabae o kochidetsuru kamo

足柄のみ坂畏み曇り夜の
我が下ばへをこち出つるかも

Roma-ji: Ashigara no misaka kashikomi kumoriyo no a ga shitabae o kochidetsuru kamo
English Translation: On Ashigara,
in awe of the sacred slope,
as a clouded night,
the love I kept hidden deep
I have spoken out aloud.
Meaning: In awe of the holy slope of the Ashigara pass, I have spoken aloud the love I kept hidden like a clouded night.
Commentary: Book Fourteen Azuma Poems 3371

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Sōmon (Love Exchanges)"
In fear of the sacred slope of the Ashigara pass, the singer has blurted out the name of the beloved he kept hidden. It was said to be the custom to declare a name to the god at a pass, so faith and love cross here.
It is one of the Sagami poems. The Ashigara pass was a hard crossing where the god of the slope was worshipped, and travelers made offerings as they passed.
The poet is unknown. The Azuma uta are thought to have been sung among the people of the eastern provinces, and they are marked by plain, open-hearted expression mixed with local dialect.

First line, "ashigara no": The Ashigara pass, a place named again and again among the Sagami poems.
Second line, "misaka kashikomi": "Misaka" is a slope where a god dwells, and "kashikomi" means "because it is awesome."
Third line, "kumoriyo no": A cloudy night that hides everything, used almost as a pillow word for the hidden heart.
Fourth line, "a ga shitabae o": "Shitabae" is love kept secret within. Poem 3381 of this book also has "shitahaeshi."
Final line, "kochidetsuru kamo": "Kochidu" means to speak aloud, and "tsuru kamo" marks completion with exclamation.
Source: Manyoshu
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