立ち別れ君がいまさば磯城島の
人は我れじく斎ひて待たむ
人は我れじく斎ひて待たむ
- Roma-ji
-
Tachiwakare kimi ga imasaba shikishima no hito wa warejiku iwaite matamu
- English Translation
-
When you, my lord,
part from us and go your way,
the Shikishima
people will, just as I do,
keep pure and pray and wait
- Meaning
- When you part from us and set out, the people of Yamato will all, just as I do, keep themselves pure and pray for you as they wait.
- Commentary
-
Book Nineteen 4280
Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "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"
The second poem at Tachibana no Naramaro's farewell banquet, it expresses admiration for him: when you part and set out, all the people of Yamato will, like me, keep themselves pure and pray for your safety as they wait for your return.
By saying that not he alone but all the people of Yamato will wait, it praises Naramaro's popularity. 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 left note says, "The above poem: Ōtomo no Sukune Kuromaro, Junior Secretary of the Right Capital Office."
The poet, Ōtomo no Kuromaro, was an official of the Ōtomo clan, at this time Junior Secretary of the Right Capital Office.
First line, "tachiwakare" (parting), marks the departure.
Second line, "kimi ga imasaba" (if you go): "imasu" is honorific for "go."
Third line, "shikishima no" (of Shikishima): "shikishima" means the land of Yamato.
Fourth line, "hito wa warejiku" (the people, like me): "jiku" means "like."
Fifth line, "iwaite matamu" (will pray and wait): "iwau" means to keep pure and pray for safety.
- Author
- Ōtomo no Kuromaro
- Source
- Manyoshu
- Prev Poem
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Notogawa no nochi ni wa awamu shimashiku mo wakaru to ieba kanashiku mo aru ka
- Next Poem
-
Shirayuki no furishiku yama o koeyukamu kimi o zo motona iki no o ni omou