Amazakaru hina ni tsuki henu shikaredomo yuiteshi himo o toki mo akenaku ni

天離る鄙に月経ぬしかれども
結ひてし紐を解きも開けなくに

Roma-ji: Amazakaru hina ni tsuki henu shikaredomo yuiteshi himo o toki mo akenaku ni
English Translation: Far as heaven's edge,
here in the country months have passed,
and yet even so
the cord that was tied for me
I have never once undone
Meaning: Months have passed here in this country far from the capital, yet I have never untied the cord that was tied for me when we parted.
Commentary: Book Seventeen 3948

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Poems from a banquet gathered at the residence of Governor Ōtomo no Sukune Yakamochi on the night of the seventh day of the eighth month"
Months have passed in this distant province, yet he has not untied the cord tied at parting—a poem of unchanging devotion to his wife in the capital. This is one of the poems from a banquet held on the night of the seventh day of the eighth month of 746, when the provincial officials gathered at the residence of Yakamochi, newly arrived as Governor of Etchū. A month after arriving, he shows his longing for the wife left behind through the pledge of not untying his cord.
The poet, Ōtomo no Yakamochi, was the son of the Major Counselor Ōtomo no Tabito. Appointed Governor of Etchū in 746, he spent five years there, later serving as Junior Counselor and Governor of Inaba before rising to Middle Counselor. He is thought to have played a central role in compiling the Man'yōshū.
The left note reads, "The above two poems are by Governor Ōtomo no Sukune Yakamochi."

First line, "amazakaru": "far as the heavens," a pillow word for hina ("the provinces"). The next poem, 3949, opens with the same pillow word.
Second line, "hina ni tsuki henu": "months have passed in the provinces"; the poem pauses here.
Third line, "shikaredomo": "and yet," running on adversatively.
Fourth line, "yuiteshi himo o": the undercord tied at parting, a pledge not to untie it until reunion. The same line appears in 3950 of this book.
Fifth line, "toki mo akenaku ni": "though I have not undone it," meaning his heart has not turned to another woman.
Author: Otomo no Yakamochi
Source: Manyoshu
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