Ashikaki no hoka ni mo kimi ga yoritatashi koikere koso ba ime ni miekere

葦垣の外にも君が寄り立たし
恋ひけれこそば夢に見えけれ

Roma-ji: Ashikaki no hoka ni mo kimi ga yoritatashi koikere koso ba ime ni miekere
English Translation: Even from outside
the reed fence you drew near
and stood there for me,
longing—that must be the reason
you appeared to me in dreams
Meaning: It must be because you came and stood longing for me, even outside the reed fence, that you appeared to me in my dreams.
Commentary: Book Seventeen 3977

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Two tanka"
Because his friend stood longing even outside the reed fence, he appeared in his dreams—a poem thanking Ikenushi for his feelings. This is one of two tanka that Yakamochi, lying ill, composed on the fifth day of the third month of 747 in response to Ikenushi's chōka and envoys. Based on the belief that someone who thinks of us appears in our dreams, it confirms Ikenushi's deep friendship through the dream.
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, "Fifth day of the third month, composed by Ōtomo no Sukune Yakamochi while lying ill."

First line, "ashikaki no": the same words as the third line of Ikenushi's 3975, taking up that poem directly.
Second line, "hoka ni mo kimi ga": "you, even outside the fence," answering "hoka ni nagekau" in 3975.
Third line, "yoritatashi": tashi contains the honorific su—"you came and stood near."
Fourth line, "koikere koso ba": the realis with koso—"precisely because you longed for me"; koso ba is bound to kere in the last line.
Fifth line, "ime ni miekere": "you appeared in my dreams." In 3981 of this book he says his wife appeared in dreams because his own heart went to her; this poem, attributing the dream to the other's longing, stands in contrast.
Author: Otomo no Yakamochi
Source: Manyoshu
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