Ame ni wa mo iotsutsuna hau yorozuyo ni kuni shirasamu to iotsutsuna hau

天にはも五百つ綱延ふ万代に
国知らさむと五百つ綱延ふ

Roma-ji: Ame ni wa mo iotsutsuna hau yorozuyo ni kuni shirasamu to iotsutsuna hau
English Translation: Up in heaven, lo,
countless ropes are stretched across—
for ten thousand ages
that he may rule the land,
countless ropes are stretched across
Meaning: Up in the heavens countless ropes are stretched—stretched so that he may rule this land for ten thousand ages.
Commentary: Book Nineteen 4274

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Six poems composed at imperial command at the banquet of the Niiname Festival on the twenty-fifth day"
The second poem at the Niiname banquet, it blesses the reign's endurance by overlaying it with the ropes strung around the festival hall: in heaven countless ropes are stretched, stretched so that he may rule the land for ten thousand ages.
Repeating "countless ropes are stretched" in the second and last lines, it takes an archaic form; the text carries an original note, "it resembles an old poem but is uncertain." The left note says, "The above poem: Ishikawa no Ason Toshitari, Minister of Ceremonial."
The poet, Ishikawa no Toshitari, was a noble of the Ishikawa clan, descended from the Soga, and at this time Minister of Ceremonial. He later rose to Grand Counselor.

First line, "ame ni wa mo" (in heaven above): "wa" and "mo" are emphatic.
Second line, "iotsutsuna hau" (countless ropes are stretched): "iotsutsuna" means many ropes, referring to those of the festival hall; the poem pauses here.
Third line, "yorozuyo ni" (for ten thousand ages), conveys eternity.
Fourth line, "kuni shirasamu to" (that he may rule the land): "shirasu" is honorific for govern.
Fifth line, "iotsutsuna hau" repeats the second line, strengthening the blessing through refrain.
Author: Ishikawa no Toshitari
Source: Manyoshu
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