Koma tsukuru Haji no Shibimaro shiroku areba ube hoshikaramu sono kuroiro o

駒造る土師の志婢麻呂白くあれば
うべ欲しからむその黒色を

Roma-ji: Koma tsukuru Haji no Shibimaro shiroku areba ube hoshikaramu sono kuroiro o
English Translation: Maker of clay steeds,
Shibimaro of the Haji,
since you are so white,
small wonder that you crave it—
this dark color that we bear!
Meaning: Shibimaro of the Haji, maker of clay horses, is so pale that no wonder he envies this black color of ours!
Commentary: Book Sixteen Poems with Tales of Origin and Miscellaneous Poems 3845

Headnote: "A poem in reply; one poem."
The poet retorts that pale Shibimaro of the Haji must be envious of their dark color. Teased for his dark skin, Toyohito turns his rival's paleness against him, suggesting he is simply jealous.
According to the left note, there were the palace attendant Haji no Sukune Mimichi, called Shibimaro; the palace attendant Kose no Asomi Toyohito, called Mutsukimaro; and Kose no Hida no Asomi [his given name forgotten; a son of Lord Shimamura]. Toyohito and Hida both had dark complexions, so Mimichi made this poem to laugh at them, and Toyohito, hearing it, answered with a poem laughing back.
Kose no Toyohito was a palace attendant bearing the title Asomi, also called Mutsukimaro.

First line, "koma tsukuru," means "who makes clay horses," introducing the Haji clan, makers of clay figures.
Second line, "Haji no Shibimaro," calls the author of the preceding poem, Haji no Mimichi, by his familiar name.
Third line, "shiroku areba," means "since he is white." Against the Big Black and Little Black of the preceding poem it sets white, answering through contrast of color.
Fourth line, "ube hoshikaramu," means "no wonder he wants it." Ube signals agreement, and the poem pauses here.
Final line, "sono kuroiro o," means "that black color." Inverted to attach to the fourth line, it takes up the black of the preceding poem, 3844, and closes the exchange with the contrast of white and black.
Author: Kose no Toyohito
Source: Manyoshu
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