Okamigawa kurenai niou otomera shi ashitsuki toru to se ni tatasurashi

雄神川紅にほふ娘子らし
葦付取ると瀬に立たすらし

Roma-ji: Okamigawa kurenai niou otomera shi ashitsuki toru to se ni tatasurashi
English Translation: On the Okami
a crimson glow is shining—
maidens, it must be,
who to gather river weed
are standing in the shallows
Meaning: The Okami River glows with crimson—it must be the maidens standing in the shallows to gather the river weed.
Commentary: Book Seventeen 4021

Headnote: "A poem composed by the Okami River in Tonami District"
The river glows crimson, it seems, because maidens stand in the shallows gathering river weed—a poem on a spring riverside. This is one of the poems Yakamochi composed in the spring of 748 on what he saw at each time and place while touring the districts of Etchū to administer suiko, the system of lending seed rice in spring to be repaid with interest after the autumn harvest, for which provincial governors traveled through their territory. It depicts, as if inferring from afar, the brilliant color of the maidens' red skirts reflected on the water.
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 word ashitsuki in the fourth line carries an original note, "a kind of water pine," indicating a weed that grows under water.

First line, "Okamigawa": a river flowing through Tonami District, thought to be today's Shō River.
Second line, "kurenai niou": to glow beautifully in crimson, the maidens' red skirts reflected on the water.
Third line, "otomera shi": ra marks the plural and shi is emphatic—"the maidens."
Fourth line, "ashitsuki toru to": ashitsuki is, as the original note says, a kind of water weed, an edible river alga.
Fifth line, "se ni tatasurashi": tatasu is honorific for tatsu and rashi expresses inference from evidence—"they seem to be standing in the shallows." From the crimson glow on the water he infers the maidens he cannot see.
Author: Otomo no Yakamochi
Source: Manyoshu
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