Imo ga sode ware makuramu kawa no se ni kiri tachiwatare sayo fukenu to ni

妹が袖我れ枕かむ川の瀬に
霧立ちわたれさ夜更けぬとに

Roma-ji: Imo ga sode ware makuramu kawa no se ni kiri tachiwatare sayo fukenu to ni
English Translation: My beloved's sleeve
I shall make my pillow now—
in the river shallows
let the mist rise and spread
before the night grows late
Meaning: I will pillow my head on my beloved's sleeve—so let the mist rise over the shallows of the river before the night grows late.
Commentary: Book Nineteen 4163

Headnote: "A Tanabata poem composed in advance"
The poem depicts the Herdboy Star meeting the Weaver Maid on the night of Tanabata, spoken from his point of view. He wishes to sleep pillowed on his wife's sleeve, and asks that mist rise over the River of Heaven before the night grows late, hiding their tryst from view.
As the headnote says, "composed in advance," this Tanabata poem for the seventh month was written beforehand in the third month, showing Yakamochi's habit of preparing poems ahead of the season.
The poet, Ōtomo no Yakamochi, was the son of the Grand Counselor Ōtomo no Tabito. From 746 he served as Governor of Etchū, living at the provincial headquarters in what is now Fushiki, Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture. He is regarded as the leading poet of the Nara period and is thought to have played a central role in compiling the Man'yōshū.

First line, "imo ga sode" (my beloved's sleeve), refers to the sleeve of the Weaver Maid, the Herdboy's beloved wife, placing his anticipation of their meeting at the start.
Second line, "ware makuramu" (I will make my pillow): "maku" means to use as a pillow, and the volitional "mu" expresses the Herdboy's wish to lie with his wife; the poem pauses here.
Third line, "kawa no se ni" (in the river shallows), refers to the shallows of the River of Heaven, which separates the pair and becomes the place of their meeting.
Fourth line, "kiri tachiwatare" (mist, rise and spread), is an imperative calling on the mist to cover everything, expressing the hope that their meeting will be veiled.
Fifth line, "sayo fukenu to ni" (before the night grows late): "to ni" means "while," expressing the urge to hurry before the night deepens.
Author: Otomo no Yakamochi
Source: Manyoshu
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