Naniwagata migiwa no ashi no itsu made ka ho wa idezu shimo aki o shinobamu

難波潟汀の葦のいつまでか
ほは出でずしも秋を忍ばむ

Roma-ji: Naniwagata migiwa no ashi no itsu made ka ho wa idezu shimo aki o shinobamu
English Translation: Reeds by the water
at the shore of Naniwa Bay—
how long, I wonder,
putting forth no plumes at all,
will they endure the autumn?
Meaning: How long will the reeds by the water's edge at Naniwa Bay endure the autumn without putting forth their plumes? How long can I hide my love without letting it show?
Commentary: Love Poems 561

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Sent to a certain person"
As the reeds at the water's edge of Naniwa Bay pass the autumn without putting forth plumes, the poet wonders how long he can keep his love from showing. Against the love that came into the open in the preceding poem, it sings of a heart still striving to hide, and closes the love section.

Line 1 names Naniwa Bay, a poetic place in Settsu, the same as line 1 of 457.
Line 2 means "of the reeds at the water's edge."
Line 3 means "until when?" ka being an interrogative binding particle concluded by mu in line 5.
Line 4 means "without putting forth plumes," ho meaning plume and outward show, shimo intensive; it pairs with "has come into the open" in the preceding poem.
Line 5 means "will they endure the autumn?" shinobu echoing hidden love. Whereas 407 opened the love section with spring blossoms falling, this closing poem ends with autumn reeds and hidden love, the opening and the close forming a seasonal pair.
Author: Minamoto no Sanetomo
Source: Kinkaishu
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