Kusamakura tabi yuku hito o Iwaishima ikuyo furu made iwaikinikemu

草枕旅行く人を伊波比島
幾代経るまで斎ひ来にけむ

Roma-ji: Kusamakura tabi yuku hito o Iwaishima ikuyo furu made iwaikinikemu
English Translation: Grass for a pillow,
those who go upon their journeys,
Iwai Isle,
through how many ages
have you kept them in your prayers
Meaning: Iwai Isle, through how many ages have you watched over and prayed for those who pass by on their journeys, with grass for a pillow?
Commentary: Book Fifteen Poems of the Envoys to Silla 3637

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Eight poems composed when passing Marifu Bay in Kuga District, Suō Province"
Drawing on the island's name, the poem praises its sacred power, wondering through how many ages Iwai Isle has watched over and prayed for those who pass by on their journeys. Where the preceding poem sang of the family's prayers, this one sees the island itself as having prayed for travelers, depicting it as a guardian of voyages. The eight poems made while passing Marifu Bay close with this poem in praise of the land.
According to the headnote, this is one of eight poems composed when passing Marifu Bay in Kuga District, Suō Province, thought to be the coast of present-day Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture. The author is not named.

First line, "kusamakura": from tying grass for a pillow when sleeping on a journey, a pillow word for "tabi" (journey).
Second line, "tabi yuku hito o": those who go on journeys, meaning the travelers who have come and gone on this sea since ancient times, including themselves.
Third line, "Iwaishima": the same island as in the preceding poem, 3636, its name leading into "iwai" in the last line.
Fourth line, "ikuyo furu made": until how many ages have passed, contemplating the island's long history.
Fifth line, "iwaikinikemu": "kemu" is past conjecture: has it gone on praying for them? The device of overlaying the island's name with "iwai" is the same as in the preceding poem.
Source: Manyoshu
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