Amakumo no sokihe no kiwami aga moeru kimi ni wakaremu hi chikaku narinu

天雲のそきへの極み我が思へる
君に別れむ日近くなりぬ

Roma-ji: Amakumo no sokihe no kiwami aga moeru kimi ni wakaremu hi chikaku narinu
English Translation: Like the clouds of heaven
to the farthest bounds of all
I have loved you so,
and the day I must part from you
has now drawn near at hand
Meaning: The day is drawing near when I must part from you, my mother, whom I love as boundlessly as the clouds of heaven reach to the ends of the sky.
Commentary: Book Nineteen 4247

Headnote: "A poem of sorrowful parting presented to his mother by Abe no Ason Okina when he was dispatched to Tang"
Composed by Abe no Okina, sent to Tang as a member of an embassy, as he took leave of his mother, it says the day draws near when he must part from the mother he loves boundlessly, to the very ends where the clouds of heaven fade—a poem of deep love for his mother.
The left note reads, "The poems above were transmitted by Takayasu no Kurahito no Tanemaro, Senior Clerk of Etchū. Their order follows the time at which they were heard, not their dates." closing the group of poems related to embassies to Tang that began with 4240 in this book. The heart of a son setting out for a distant land and yearning for his mother is expressed simply.
The poet, Abe no Okina, was an official who traveled to Tang as a member of an embassy, but little else is known of him.

First line, "amakumo no" (of the clouds of heaven), leads into the distant ends.
Second line, "sokihe no kiwami" (to the farthest bounds): "sokihe" means far-off ends, and "kiwami" the limit, expressing boundlessness.
Third line, "aga moeru" (whom I love), is hypermetric, showing deep devotion to his mother.
Fourth line, "kimi ni wakaremu" (that I must part from you): "kimi" respectfully refers to his mother.
Fifth line, "hi chikaku narinu" (the day has drawn near): "nu" marks completion. Its ending resembles "the month has drawn near" in 4244, and the approaching parting recurs within the group of embassy poems.
Author: Abe no Okina
Source: Manyoshu
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