Shimo no ue ni arare tabashiri iyamashi ni are wa maikomu toshi no o nagaku

霜の上に霰た走りいやましに
我れは参ゐ来む年の緒長く

Roma-ji: Shimo no ue ni arare tabashiri iyamashi ni are wa maikomu toshi no o nagaku
English Translation: Upon the hoarfrost
the hailstones go dancing down;
ever more and more
I shall come here to call on you
through the long cord of the years
Meaning: As hail goes dancing down upon the frost, so more and more often I shall come to call on you, through all the long years.
Commentary: Book Twenty Miscellaneous Poems 4298

Headnote: "On the fourth day of the first month of year 6, clansmen gathered at the residence of the Junior Counselor Ōtomo no Yakamochi to offer congratulations and held a banquet; three poems."
As hail falls thick upon the frost, so more and more often will I come to call through the long years: a poem of congratulation expressing devotion to Yakamochi as head of the clan. According to the headnote, it comes from a banquet on the fourth day of the first month of Tenpyō Shōhō 6 (754), when members of the Ōtomo clan gathered at his residence to celebrate the new year. A note at the end of the original text says it is uncertain whether this is an old poem or a new one.
The author, Ōtomo no Chimuro, was a member of the Ōtomo clan and at this time Commander of the Left Military Guards, but little more is known of his career.

The first line, "shimo no ue ni," shows a winter morning scene on the ground, adding the season of the new year banquet.
The second line, "arare tabashiri," with the prefix ta, describes hail falling as if leaping. The first two lines form a preface leading to "iyamashi ni," since hail piles upon the frost.
The third line, "iyamashi ni," "ever more and more," is the pivot turning from the prefatory scene to feeling.
The fourth line, "are wa maikomu," with the volitional mu, says "I shall come to call" at Yakamochi's residence.
The closing line, "toshi no o nagaku," likens the years to a cord, a stock ending for congratulatory poems wishing long continuance. The next poem also sings of the length of years, so the set is unified in celebrating the new year.
Author: Ōtomo no Chimuro
Source: Manyoshu
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