Ochikata no hana mo miru beku shiranami no tomo ni ya ware mo tachiwataramashi - Shui Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

をちかたの花も見るべく白波の
ともにや我も立ち渡らまし

Roma-ji: Ochikata no hana mo miru beku shiranami no tomo ni ya ware mo tachiwataramashi
English Translation: So that I might see
the blossoms on the far shore,
with the white waves, too,
should I not, I wonder, rise
and go crossing over there?
Meaning: So that I might see the blossoms on the far shore as well, should I, too, rise up and cross over together with the white waves?
Commentary: Book Sixteen Miscellaneous Spring Poems 1042

Headnote: "Topic unknown"
The poet wonders whether he, too, should rise and cross over with the white waves so that he may see the blossoms on the far shore. Setting his heart on the white waves that rise and roll toward the opposite bank, he expresses a wish to go and see distant blossoms. Where the two preceding poems, 1040 and 1041, could only think of distant blossoms, this one wonders whether to cross over and see them himself.
The author, Ki no Tsurayuki, was the leading compiler of the Kokinshū, wrote its kana preface and the Tosa Diary. He is counted among the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets.

First line, "ochikata no," means "of the far shore," echoing the second line of the preceding poem, 1041, "yama no anata no," in singing of distant blossoms.
Second line, "hana mo miru beku," means "so that I might see the blossoms too," with "beku" the continuative of "beshi" expressing possibility.
Third line, "shiranami no," means "of the white waves."
Fourth line, "tomo ni ya ware mo," means "should I too, together with them," with the binding particle "ya" expressing a question resolved by "mashi" in the final line.
Final line, "tachiwataramashi," means "rise and cross over," with "mashi" expressing a hesitant intention. "Tachiwataru" lays the white waves rising and rolling across over the poet setting out and crossing.
Author: Ki no Tsurayuki
Source: Shui Wakashu
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