Hachisuba wa kaku koso aru mono Okimaro ga ie naru mono wa umo no ha ni arashi

蓮葉はかくこそあるもの意吉麻呂が
家なるものは芋の葉にあらし

Roma-ji: Hachisuba wa kaku koso aru mono Okimaro ga ie naru mono wa umo no ha ni arashi
English Translation: Lotus leaves, I see,
are indeed like this, so fine;
then Okimaro's—
those he has at home, it seems,
must just be taro leaves.
Meaning: So this is what lotus leaves are really like! The ones at Okimaro's house, it seems, must be nothing but taro leaves.
Commentary: Book Sixteen Poems with Tales of Origin and Miscellaneous Poems 3826

Headnote: "A poem on lotus leaves."
Seeing the lotus leaves at the banquet, the poet exclaims that this is what lotus leaves really are; the ones at his own home must be taro leaves. Naming himself to belittle his own house, he flatters the host and draws laughter from the company.
This is one of eight poems by Naga no Okimaro, playful banquet pieces composed on the spot by weaving in the names of things. The wit lies in fitting every object named in the title neatly into a single poem. At banquets food was said to be served on lotus leaves, and it is these that the poem takes up.
Naga no Okimaro was a court poet in the reigns of Empress Jitō and Emperor Monmu, bearing the title Imiki. He left poems composed on imperial outings and many impromptu verses weaving in the names of things.

First line, "hachisuba wa," means "lotus leaves," bringing in the theme. Poem 3837 in this book also takes banquet lotus leaves as its subject.
Second line, "kaku koso aru mono," means "this is what they are," and the poem pauses here in admiration of the fine leaves before him.
Third line, "Okimaro ga," is the poet's own name; calling himself in the third person adds comedy.
Fourth line, "ie naru mono wa," means "those at his home."
Final line, "umo no ha ni arashi," means "must be taro leaves." Catching the likeness between lotus and taro leaves, it ends playfully on the inferential rashi.
Author: Naga no Okimaro
Source: Manyoshu
Prev Poem: Sugomo shiki aona nite komu utsuhari ni mukabaki kakete yasumu kono kimi
Next Poem: Ichi ni no me nomi ni wa arazu go roku san shi sae arikeri sugoroku no sae