Yamabuki o yado ni uete wa miru goto ni omoi wa yamazu koi koso masare

山吹を宿に植ゑては見るごとに
思ひはやまず恋こそまされ

Roma-ji: Yamabuki o yado ni uete wa miru goto ni omoi wa yamazu koi koso masare
English Translation: The yellow kerria
I have planted in my garden,
and each time I look,
my brooding never ceases—
it is longing that grows
Meaning: Since I planted yellow kerria in my garden, every time I look at it my thoughts never rest, and my longing only grows stronger.
Commentary: Book Nineteen 4186

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "A poem on yellow kerria flowers, with a short poem"
An envoy to the long poem on yellow kerria, it says that although the poet planted kerria in his garden to console himself, every time he looks at it his thoughts do not cease and his longing only grows. Taking up the long poem's statement that he transplanted kerria from a valley to his garden to soothe the heaviness of love, it shows the paradox that consolation only deepens longing.
Placed after the kerria poem from the capital, it shows longing exchanged between the capital and Etchū through the medium of the kerria.
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, "yamabuki o" (the kerria), places the same flower as the preceding poem at the head, letting the two poems echo.
Second line, "yado ni uete wa" (having planted it in my garden), takes up the long poem's "transplanting it to my garden."
Third line, "miru goto ni" (each time I look), shows the repeated act of gazing at the flowers and is the same phrase as in the long poem.
Fourth line, "omoi wa yamazu" (my thoughts do not cease), is the same phrase as the close of the long poem, showing endless brooding.
Fifth line, "koi koso masare" (it is my longing that grows): "koso" binds with the realis "masare," closing with the emphasis that longing only increases.
Author: Otomo no Yakamochi
Source: Manyoshu
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