Imo ni niru kusa to mishi yori waga shimeshi nobe no yamabuki tare ka taorishi

妹に似る草と見しより我が標し
野辺の山吹誰れか手折りし

Roma-ji: Imo ni niru kusa to mishi yori waga shimeshi nobe no yamabuki tare ka taorishi
English Translation: Since I first saw it
as a flower that resembled you,
the one I marked as mine—
that kerria of the fields,
who was it that broke it off?
Meaning: Ever since I saw it as a flower that looked like you, I marked that kerria in the fields as mine—who could it be that has broken it off?
Commentary: Book Nineteen 4197

Headnote: "Two poems sent to a person in the capital"
Sent to Yakamochi's younger sister in the capital, the poem asks who has broken off the kerria in the fields that the speaker had marked out, thinking it resembled her. Likening the kerria to the sister and pretending to lament that something cherished has been taken by another, it is a playful poem full of affection.
The left note says, "The above were composed at the request of my wife, to be sent to the lady who remained in the capital," and adds, "The lady is Ōtomo no Yakamochi's younger sister." Yakamochi composed them on behalf of his wife, Lady Sakanoue the Elder, for his sister in the capital, as replies to 4184 in this book. The sister had sung of holding kerria flowers and longing, and the reply answers with the same flower.
The poet, Ōtomo no Yakamochi, son of Ōtomo no Tabito, was serving as Governor of Etchū. These two poems were composed in the voice of his wife, Lady Sakanoue the Elder.

First line, "imo ni niru" (resembling you): "imo" here fondly addresses Yakamochi's sister, the recipient, likening the beauty of the kerria to her.
Second line, "kusa to mishi yori" (since I saw it as such a flower), gives the moment when the speaker began to cherish the kerria.
Third line, "waga shimeshi" (that I marked as mine): "shimu" means to set a sign of ownership, showing affection and possessiveness toward the kerria.
Fourth line, "nobe no yamabuki" (the kerria of the fields), takes up the kerria of 4184 in this book and refers to kerria blooming in the fields.
Fifth line, "tare ka taorishi" (who has broken it off?): "ka" binds with the attributive "shi," closing with a question tinged with reproach.
Author: Otomo no Yakamochi
Source: Manyoshu
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