Oto ni nomi kikite wa yamaji asaku tomo iza kumimiten yama no i no mizu - Gosen Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

音にのみ聞きてはやまじ浅くとも
いざ汲み見てん山の井の水

Roma-ji: Oto ni nomi kikite wa yamaji asaku tomo iza kumimiten yama no i no mizu
English Translation: Not just by its sound
will I know it and be done—
however shallow,
come, I'll scoop and taste its depth,
the water of the mountain spring
Meaning: I will not be content with only hearing of it; however shallow it may be, come, let me scoop and taste the water of the mountain spring.
Commentary: Book Sixteen Miscellaneous Poems II 1165

Headnote: "Sent to the Lady of the Mountain Spring."
The poet says he will not be content with only hearing of it and, however shallow, will scoop up and taste the water of the mountain spring. Likening the woman called Lady of the Mountain Spring to the spring's water, he courts her, saying that even if their tie is shallow, he wants to meet her and learn her heart.
According to the headnote, he sent it to a woman called the Lady of the Mountain Spring. Who she was is unknown.
The poet is listed as anonymous, and the composer's name has not come down to us.

The first line, "Oto ni nomi," means "only by report."
The second line, "kikite wa yamaji," means "I will not stop at hearing," with "ji" negative intention. The poem pauses here.
The third line, "asaku tomo," means "even if shallow," overlaying the spring's shallowness with a slight bond.
The fourth line, "iza kumimiten," means "come, I will scoop and see," with "ten" firm intention. Scooping water carries the sense of meeting her.
The last line, "yama no i no mizu," means "the water of the mountain spring," weaving in her name and ending on a noun. "Yama no i" also appears in 1135 of this book.
Author: Unknown Poet
Source: Gosen Wakashu
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