Hamachidori tanomu o shire to fumisomuru ato uchikesu na ware o kosu nami - Gosen Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

浜千鳥頼むを知れとふみ初むる
あとうち消つな我を越す浪

Roma-ji: Hamachidori tanomu o shire to fumisomuru ato uchikesu na ware o kosu nami
English Translation: Like a plover's prints,
"Know that I trust in you,"
so I begin to write—
do not wash those tracks away,
you waves that pass over me
Meaning: Like the first prints of a plover on the shore, I begin this letter so that you may know I am counting on you—do not wash those tracks away, you waves that sweep over me.
Commentary: Book Ten Love Poems II 695

Headnote: "Sent when he had set his heart on someone."
The poet begs the waves sweeping over him not to wash away the tracks of the letter he has begun so that she may know he trusts in her, like the plover's first footprints. He likens his first love letter to a plover's tracks and hopes it will not be ignored, as tracks are erased by waves.
According to the headnote, he sent it when he had set his heart on someone. The next poem, 696, is Ōtsubune's reply. 635 in this book also likens a plover's tracks to handwriting.
The poet, Taira no Sadafun, was a son of Taira no Yoshikaze and served as Assistant Commander of the Left Military Guards, among other posts. Called Heichū and renowned as a lover, he is known as the hero of the Tale of Heichū.

The first line, "Hamachidori," is the plover of the shore, whose footprints are likened to writing. It is the same word as the third line of 635 in this book.
The second line, "tanomu o shire to," means "so that you will know I trust in you."
In the third line, "fumi" is a pivot word joining "fumi," a letter, and "fumi," treading: "begin to write, begin to tread."
In the fourth line, "ato" is a pivot word joining the plover's footprints and the trace of handwriting, with "na" expressing prohibition.
The last line, "ware o kosu nami," means "you waves that pass over me," a figure for whatever stands in love's way, addressed with a closing noun.
Author: Taira no Sadafun
Source: Gosen Wakashu
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