Unahara no yutakeki mitsutsu ashi ga chiru Naniwa ni toshi wa henubeku omōyu

海原のゆたけき見つつ葦が散る
難波に年は経ぬべく思ほゆ

Roma-ji: Unahara no yutakeki mitsutsu ashi ga chiru Naniwa ni toshi wa henubeku omōyu
English Translation: Gazing on the sea
in its broad and boundless calm,
where the reed plumes fly
here in Naniwa, I feel
years could pass and I'd not mind
Meaning: Gazing at the vast, calm sea, I feel I could spend years here in Naniwa, where the reed plumes scatter in the wind.
Commentary: Book Twenty Frontier Guard Poems 4362

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "A poem with tanka setting forth my humble thoughts."
Gazing at the vast sea, I feel I could spend years at Naniwa where the reed plumes scatter: the second envoy, praising the richness of Naniwa. The left note dates it to the thirteenth day of the second month and attributes it to Ōtomo no Yakamochi, Junior Assistant Minister of Military Affairs. Following the praise of the palace cherry blossoms, it declares how the grandeur of the Naniwa sea draws him, making a poem in praise of the land.
The author, Ōtomo no Yakamochi, son of Ōtomo no Tabito, was at this time Junior Assistant Minister of Military Affairs.

The first line, "unahara no," refers to the sea of Naniwa, taking up "the sea of Naniwa" of the preceding poem.
The second line, "yutakeki mitsutsu," uses yutakeshi, "broad and generous," showing him gazing on and on at the sea's abundance.
The third line, "ashi ga chiru," from the reed plumes scattering, is a pillow word for Naniwa.
The fourth line, "Naniwa ni toshi wa," "the years in Naniwa," shows his attachment to the place.
The closing line, "henubeku omōyu," uses nubeshi, "would surely," ending: I feel I could let the years go by here.
Author: Otomo no Yakamochi
Source: Manyoshu
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