Shibi tsuku to ama no tomoseru isaribi no ho ni ka idasamu waga shitamoi o

鮪突くと海人の灯せる漁り火の
秀にか出ださむ我が下思ひを

Roma-ji: Shibi tsuku to ama no tomoseru isaribi no ho ni ka idasamu waga shitamoi o
English Translation: To spear the tuna
the fishermen kindle bright
their fishing fires—
shall I let it blaze out so,
this longing hidden in me?
Meaning: Like the fires the fishermen light to spear tuna, shall I let it blaze out for all to see—this longing I have kept hidden in my heart?
Commentary: Book Nineteen 4218

Headnote: "A poem on seeing the fishermen's fires"
Seeing the fires that fishermen light on the night sea, the poet wonders whether, like those fires, he should let the love hidden in his heart show plainly. The fishing fires glowing red against the dark sea serve as a metaphor for love that can no longer be held in.
Capturing a scene of nighttime life on the Etchū coast and turning it into a love poem is the poem's ingenuity. Like the preceding poem it was composed in the fifth month; the left note says, "The above two poems, fifth month."
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, "shibi tsuku to" (to spear tuna): "shibi" is the old word for tuna, depicting fishing with harpoons.
Second line, "ama no tomoseru" (that fishermen kindle), depicts the night fishing scene.
Third line, "isaribi no" (of the fishing fires), ends the introductory phrase that leads into "ho ni" (conspicuously) in the fourth line, from the brightness of the fires.
Fourth line, "ho ni ka idasamu" (shall I bring it out plainly?): "ho" means standing out on the surface, and "ka" binding with "mu" expresses hesitation.
Fifth line, "waga shitamoi o" (my hidden longing): "shitamoi" is a feeling kept secret, placed last by inversion.
Author: Otomo no Yakamochi
Source: Manyoshu
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