Konokoro no aga koijikara shirushi atsume kū ni mōsaba goi no kagauri

このころの我が恋力記し集め
功に申さば五位の冠

Roma-ji: Konokoro no aga koijikara shirushi atsume kū ni mōsaba goi no kagauri
English Translation: All these recent days,
the labors of my love—
if I wrote them down
and filed them as my service,
I'd earn the Fifth Rank's cap!
Meaning: If I recorded all the labors of my love these days and submitted them as meritorious service, they'd earn me the cap of the Fifth Rank!
Commentary: Book Sixteen Poems with Tales of Origin and Miscellaneous Poems 3858

Headnote: none; the left note to the next poem reads: "The above two poems."
The poet says that if he gathered up the labors of his recent love and submitted them as merit, they would earn the Fifth Rank. Likening the pains of love to an official's performance review, it is a poem full of humor.
The left note records only "the above two poems" for this and the next poem; their author and origin are unknown. They are thought to be banquet jests likening the toil of love to an official's service record. The Fifth Rank marked entry into the nobility and was a great goal for lesser officials.
The poet is not recorded.

First line, "konokoro no," means "of these days." The next poem, 3859, opens with the same line.
Second line, "aga koijikara," means "my love-labor," a rare coinage joining "love" and "strength" that the two poems share.
Third line, "shirushi atsume," means "writing it down and gathering it," like compiling an official's record of service.
Fourth line, "kū ni mōsaba," means "if I submitted it as merit."
Final line, "goi no kagauri," means "the cap of the Fifth Rank." Ending on a noun, it proudly names the reward his love's labor deserves.
Source: Manyoshu
Prev Poem: Baramoni no tsukureru oda o hamu karasu manabuta harete hatahoko ni ori
Next Poem: Konokoro no aga koijikara tabarazu wa misatozukasa ni idete ureemu