Tamae kogu komokaribune no sashihaete namima mo araba yoramu to zo omou - Shui Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

玉江漕ぐ菰刈舟のさしはへて
波間もあらば寄らむとぞ思ふ

Roma-ji: Tamae kogu komokaribune no sashihaete namima mo araba yoramu to zo omou
English Translation: At Tamae's inlet,
the reed-cutting boat is poled
with intent, and I,
if there's a pause between the waves,
mean to draw near to your shore.
Meaning: Like the reed-cutting boat poled across Tamae, I will make my way to you on purpose, if only there is a break in the waves.
Commentary: Book Eleven Love Poems I 666

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Topic unknown"
The poem says that, like a reed-cutting boat poled across Tamae, the poet means to make his way to the beloved on purpose, if only there is a break in the waves. With the upper verse as a preface, it layers "sashihaete" with poling a boat forward and doing something deliberately, expressing a wish to approach the beloved when there is a lull in watching eyes. Like 638 and 639, it uses a boat on the water as its preface.

First line, "Tamae kogu," means "rowing across Tamae," an inlet regarded as a poetic place.
Second line, "komokaribune no," means "of the boat that cuts reeds," and up to here the lines form a preface leading to "sashihaete" in the third line.
Third line, "sashihaete," is a pivot word: "sashi" means "poling" a boat forward, and "sashihaete" means "deliberately, on purpose."
Fourth line, "namima mo araba," means "if there is a break in the waves," hinting at a lull in watching eyes.
Final line, "yoramu to zo omou," means "I mean to draw near," layering a boat drawing to shore with a person drawing near to the beloved. The binding particle "zo" is resolved by the attributive "omou."
Author: Unknown Poet
Source: Shui Wakashu
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