Ujikawa no nami ni minareshi kimi maseba ware mo ajiro ni yorinubeki kana - Gosen Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

宇治川の浪にみなれし君ませば
我も網代に寄りぬべきかな

Roma-ji: Ujikawa no nami ni minareshi kimi maseba ware mo ajiro ni yorinubeki kana
English Translation: Since you are here,
so used to the Uji River's
waves, so well known to me,
I too, it seems, will be drawn
toward the fishing weir
Meaning: Since you are here, so long at home among the waves of the Uji River, I too, I think, will be drawn to the fishing weir like the little fish.
Commentary: Book Sixteen Miscellaneous Poems II 1136

Headnote: "Going to the fishing weir at Uji because someone I knew was there."
The poet says that since his friend, long familiar with the waves of the Uji River, is there, he too will surely be drawn to the weir. Likening himself to the little fish that gather at the weir, he expresses in river imagery his eagerness to stop by the friend who keeps watch over the Uji weir.
According to the headnote, he went to the fishing weir at Uji because an acquaintance was there. The ajiro was a fish trap set in the Uji River and elsewhere in winter to catch young sweetfish.
The poet, Ōe no Okitoshi, was of the Ōe clan, but little more is known of his life.

The first line, "Ujikawa no," means "of the Uji River" in Yamashiro, famous for its fishing weirs.
The second line, "nami ni minareshi," means "so used to the waves," with "minare" joining being at home in the water and being familiar to the eye.
The third line, "kimi maseba," means "since you are here," with "mase" the perfective form of "masu," honorific for "to be."
The fourth line, "ware mo ajiro ni," means "I too, to the fishing weir," likening himself to the little fish that gather there.
The last line, "yorinubeki kana," means "I am sure to be drawn," with "nubeshi" strong conjecture and "kana" exclamatory. It overlays fish drawing near the weir with his stopping by his friend.
Author: Ōe no Okitoshi
Source: Gosen Wakashu
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