Notogawa no nochi ni wa awamu shimashiku mo wakaru to ieba kanashiku mo aru ka

能登川の後には逢はむしましくも
別るといへば悲しくもあるか

Roma-ji: Notogawa no nochi ni wa awamu shimashiku mo wakaru to ieba kanashiku mo aru ka
English Translation: Like the Noto River,
later surely we shall meet,
yet even for a while,
when they say that we must part,
how sorrowful it is
Meaning: Like the Noto River's name, later we will surely meet again—and yet, when I hear that we must part even for a little while, how sad it is.
Commentary: Book Nineteen 4279

Headnote: "Three poems from a farewell banquet at the residence of Prince Hayashi on the twenty-seventh day for Tachibana no Ason Naramaro, Inspector of Tajima"
Composed at a farewell banquet for Tachibana no Naramaro at Prince Hayashi's residence, it laments the parting: we shall surely meet again later, yet when I hear we must part even for a while, how sad it is.
Tachibana no Naramaro was a son of Tachibana no Moroe, and at this time was leaving the capital as inspector (azechi) overseeing the provincial officials of Tajima and other provinces. The Noto River flows from Mount Kasuga in Nara, and the sound of its name, "noto," leads into "nochi" (later). The left note says, "The above poem: Prince Funa, Minister of Civil Affairs."
The poet, Prince Funa, was a son of Prince Toneri and elder brother of Emperor Junnin. At this time he was Minister of Civil Affairs.

First line, "Notogawa no" (of the Noto River), names the river in Nara and serves as an introduction leading to "nochi" (later) by the sound "noto."
Second line, "nochi ni wa awamu" (later we shall meet): "mu" is conjectural; the poem pauses here.
Third line, "shimashiku mo" (even for a little while), limits it to a short parting.
Fourth line, "wakaru to ieba" (when I hear we part), states the fact of separation.
Fifth line, "kanashiku mo aru ka" (how sad it is), is hypermetric; "ka" is exclamatory.
Author: Prince Fune
Source: Manyoshu
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