Ashihiki no yamashita hikage kazurakeru ue ni ya sarani ume o shinowamu

あしひきの山下ひかげかづらける
上にやさらに梅をしのはむ

Roma-ji: Ashihiki no yamashita hikage kazurakeru ue ni ya sarani ume o shinowamu
English Translation: From the foot-dragging
mountain's foot, hikage vines
we wear in our hair—
and on top of these, shall we
delight in plum blossoms too?
Meaning: We already wear hikage vines from the mountain's shade in our hair—shall we go on to delight in plum blossoms as well?
Commentary: Book Nineteen 4278

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 sixth poem at the Niiname banquet, it answers Nagate's invitation to view plum blossoms in the preceding poem, playfully asking: on top of wearing hikage vines in our hair for the Niiname, shall we go on to admire the plum blossoms as well?
The hikage vine was worn as a hair ornament at rites such as the Niiname, and the poem delights in the luxury of adding spring plum to today's ritual adornment. The left note says, "The above poem: Junior Counselor Ōtomo no Sukune Yakamochi," and it closes the six responses.
The poet, Ōtomo no Yakamochi, was the son of the Grand Counselor Ōtomo no Tabito. Appointed Junior Counselor in 751, he returned from Etchū to the capital at Heijō-kyō, where he took part in court banquets as an official. He is thought to have played a central role in compiling the Man'yōshū.

First line, "ashihiki no," is a pillow word for mountains.
Second line, "yamashita hikage" (the hikage vine of the mountain's foot), names the plant growing in mountain shade.
Third line, "kazurakeru" (worn in our hair): "kazuraku" means to wear as a hair ornament.
Fourth line, "ue ni ya sarani" (and yet more on top of that?): "ya" binds with "mu" in the last line.
Fifth line, "ume o shinowamu" (shall we admire the plum?): "shinou" means to admire, taking up the preceding poem's plum blossoms.
Author: Otomo no Yakamochi
Source: Manyoshu
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