Niwa ni furu yuki wa chie shiku shika nomi ni omoite kimi o aga matanaku ni

庭に降る雪は千重敷くしかのみに
思ひて君を我が待たなくに

Roma-ji: Niwa ni furu yuki wa chie shiku shika nomi ni omoite kimi o aga matanaku ni
English Translation: Snow falls on the garden,
lying deep in a thousand folds,
yet not merely so,
not so lightly did I wait
for you to come back to me
Meaning: The snow falling in the garden lies a thousand layers deep—but it was not with a longing so slight as that that I waited for you.
Commentary: Book Seventeen 3960

Headnote: "Two poems of rejoicing together, composed by Ōtomo no Sukune Yakamochi, Governor of Etchū"
Snow lies a thousandfold in the garden, but he did not await his friend with a longing merely so deep—a poem rejoicing at Ikenushi's return. In the eighth month of 746 the Secretary Ōtomo no Ikenushi went to the capital as envoy bearing the census register, and returned to his post in the eleventh month of that year. When a banquet of poetry and wine was held to celebrate his return, snow suddenly fell more than a foot deep, and fishermen's boats were afloat on the sea. This is one of two poems in which Yakamochi set his feelings upon these two views. Gazing at the deepening snow, this poem tells of a longing that surpassed even its depth.
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, "In the eighth month of the eighteenth year of Tenpyō, Secretary Ōtomo no Sukune Ikenushi went to the capital as envoy with the census register, and in the eleventh month of the same year returned to his post. So a banquet of poetry and wine was held, with strings played and drinking enjoyed. That day white snow suddenly fell and lay more than a foot deep, and fishermen's boats went out to sea and floated on the waves. Thereupon Governor Ōtomo no Sukune Yakamochi set his feelings upon these two views and composed what was in his heart."

First line, "niwa ni furu": the garden snow seen from the banquet.
Second line, "yuki wa chie shiku": "the snow lies a thousand layers deep"; the poem pauses here. It reflects the snow over a foot deep mentioned in the left note.
Third line, "shika nomi ni": "only so much," "to that degree."
Fourth line, "omoite kimi o": "thinking of you," meaning Ikenushi.
Fifth line, "aga matanaku ni": "it was not so that I waited," showing he had waited with a feeling deeper than the thousandfold snow.
Author: Otomo no Yakamochi
Source: Manyoshu
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