Umaii o mizu ni kaminashi waga machishi kai wa katsute nashi tadani shi araneba

味飯を水に醸みなし我が待ちし
かひはかつてなし直にしあらねば

Roma-ji: Umaii o mizu ni kaminashi waga machishi kai wa katsute nashi tadani shi araneba
English Translation: Fine rice I steeped
and in water brewed to wine,
yet all my waiting
has been in vain, wholly vain,
since it is not you who came.
Meaning: I brewed fine rice into wine and waited for you, but my waiting was all in vain, for it was not you yourself who came.
Commentary: Book Sixteen Poems with Tales of Origin and Miscellaneous Poems 3810

Headnote: none; the left note reads: "The story goes that long ago there was a maiden who, parted from her husband, longed for him through the years. Meanwhile he took another wife, and instead of coming himself he merely sent a parcel of gifts. So the maiden made this poem of reproach and sent it back in reply."
The maiden complains that though she brewed wine from fine rice and waited, it was all for nothing, since he did not come himself. Her disappointment with a husband who sent only gifts is set against the homely labor of brewing wine to await him.
According to the left note, a maiden who had long yearned for her absent husband received only a parcel of gifts after he took another wife, and so she sent back this poem of reproach.
The poet is the maiden of the tale; her name is not recorded.

First line, "umaii o," means "fine rice."
Second line, "mizu ni kaminashi," means "brewing it in water into wine," preparing for her husband's visit.
Third line, "waga machishi," means "that I waited." The past attributive marks the long months of waiting.
Fourth line, "kai wa katsute nashi," means "it was all in vain," and the poem pauses here. With a negative, katsute means "not at all."
Final line, "tadani shi araneba," means "since it is not you yourself." Through inversion it gives the reason for the fourth line, pleading that she wanted him, not his gifts.
Source: Manyoshu
Prev Poem: Akikaeshi mesu to no minori araba koso aga shitagoromo kaeshi tamawame
Next Poem: Urabe o mo yaso no chimata mo ura toedo kimi o aimimu tadoki shirazu mo