Inamino no akaragashiwa wa toki wa aredo kimi o aga mou toki wa sane nashi

印南野の赤ら柏は時はあれど
君を我が思ふ時はさねなし

Roma-ji: Inamino no akaragashiwa wa toki wa aredo kimi o aga mou toki wa sane nashi
English Translation: The red oak leaves found
on the plain of Inami
have their proper time,
but for my thoughts of you, my lord,
there is no set time at all
Meaning: The reddish oak leaves of Inami Plain have their proper season, but my thoughts of you, my lord, know no season at all.
Commentary: Book Twenty Miscellaneous Poems 4301

Headnote: "On the seventh day, a banquet held by the Emperor, the Retired Emperor, and the Empress Dowager in the southern hall of the eastern palace; one poem."
The reddish oak leaves of Inami Plain have their season, but my thoughts of my lord have no limit of time: the poem offers a pledge of constant loyalty. According to the headnote, it was presented at a banquet on the seventh day of the first month of Tenpyō Shōhō 6, given by Empress Kōken, Retired Emperor Shōmu, and Empress Dowager Kōmyō in the southern hall of the eastern palace. Reddish oak leaves were used to serve food and wine and were sent up as tribute from Inami Plain in Harima, so the author, governor of Harima, drew on a product of his own province. The left note says it is uncertain whether the poem is old or new.
The author, Prince Asukabe, was a son of Prince Nagaya; his mother was a daughter of Fujiwara no Fuhito. At this time he was Governor of Harima.

The first line, "Inamino no," names the plain in Inami District of Harima, the author's own province.
The second line, "akaragashiwa wa," refers to oak leaves tinged with red, used in court ceremonies.
The third line, "toki wa aredo," means "though they have their set season of use," turning to the lower half by concession.
The fourth line, "kimi o aga mou," uses kimi for the sovereign. The word toki of the third line returns in the fifth, sharpening the contrast.
The closing line, "toki wa sane nashi," uses sane with the negative to mean "never, not at all," declaring that there is no limit of time to his devotion.
Author: Prince Asukabe
Source: Manyoshu
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