Nami ni tsukite isowa ni imasu arakami wa shio fumu kine o matsu ni ya aruran

波につきて磯廻にいます荒神は
潮踏む禰宜を待つにやあるらん

Roma-ji: Nami ni tsukite isowa ni imasu arakami wa shio fumu kine o matsu ni ya aruran
English Translation: Along the waves there,
on the rocky shore he dwells,
the fierce god, and is
he waiting, I wonder, for
the priest who wades through the tide?
Meaning: The fierce god who dwells along the rocky shore beside the waves, is he waiting for the shrine priest who comes wading through the tide?
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 998

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Topic unknown"
Is the fierce god who dwells on the rocky shore by the waves waiting for the shrine priest who wades through the tide? the poet asks, imagining a small seaside shrine and the priest who serves it.

First line, “nami ni tsukite”: along the waves; a line of six syllables.
Second line, “isowa ni imasu”: isowa is the curve of a rocky shore; imasu, the god dwells there.
Third line, “arakami wa”: the fierce god.
Fourth line, “shio fumu kine o”: kine is a shrine priest; the priest who comes wading through the tide.
Fifth line, “matsu ni ya aruran”: is he waiting?
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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