Tabi ni inishi kimi shimo tsugite ime ni miyu aga katakoi no shigekereba kamo

旅に去にし君しも継ぎて夢に見ゆ
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Roma-ji: Tabi ni inishi kimi shimo tsugite ime ni miyu aga katakoi no shigekereba kamo
English Translation: You who went away
on a journey, night by night
come to me in dreams—
is it that my one-sided love
has grown so thick within me
Meaning: You who have gone away on your journey appear in my dreams night after night—is it because my one-sided love for you is so deep?
Commentary: Book Seventeen 3929

Headnote: "Two more poems sent to the province of Etchū"
He who has gone away appears night after night in her dreams—is it because of her intense one-sided love? A poem of longing for the distant Yakamochi. This is one of two poems that Lady Sakanoue sent again to Etchū after Yakamochi had gone down to his post. In ancient belief one appeared in another's dream because that person thought of one, or one dreamed of someone because one longed for him; here she ascribes it to her own unrequited love, showing its depth.
The poet, Lady Ōtomo no Sakanoue, was a daughter of Ōtomo no Yasumaro and half-sister of Tabito. She was Yakamochi's aunt and, since her daughter Sakanoue no Ōiratsume became his wife, also his mother-in-law.

First line, "tabi ni inishi": "who went away on a journey," shi being the attributive of the past auxiliary ki.
Second line, "kimi shimo tsugite": shimo is emphatic, "you of all people," and tsugite means "continually, night after night."
Third line, "ime ni miyu": ime means dream—"you appear in my dreams." The poem pauses here.
Fourth line, "aga katakoi no": "of my one-sided love."
Fifth line, "shigekereba kamo": "is it because it is so intense?" kamo expressing wondering doubt. The reason for the dreams is sought in her own longing.
Author: Lady Ōtomo no Sakanoue
Source: Manyoshu
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