いにしへにありけむ人も我がごとか妹に戀ひつつ寐ねかてずけむ
inisipe ni
So long ago,
The plant mentioned by Hitomaro is not strictly speaking a lily, but a crinum: a bulbaceous seaside plant that produces a profusion of green leaves and, in the summer, narrow, white flowers on stalks.
Four poems by Hitomaro, Lord Kakinomoto
み熊野の浦の濱木綿百重なす心は思へど直に逢はぬかも
mi kumano nö
At fair KumanoLilies on the beach
Composed on the heavens.
天の海に雲の波立ち月の舟星の林に漕ぎ隱る見ゆ
amë nö umi
On the sea of the heavens
Anonymous
笥飯の海の庭よくあらし刈薦の亂れて出づ見ゆ海人の釣船
kepi nö umi nö
The sea at Kehi
天離る鄙の長道ゆ戀ひ來れば明石の門より大和島見ゆ
amazakaru
Distant as the heavens,
燈火の明石大門に入らむ日や漕ぎ別れなむ家のあたり見ず
tömosibï nö
Lamplit
稻日野も行き過ぎかてに思へれば心戀しき加古の島見ゆ
inabi nö mo
Of Inabi field,
荒栲の藤江の浦に鱸釣る海人とか見らむ旅行く我れを
aratapë nö
Coarse woven cloth
Lovers would commonly tie the belts of each other’s clothing before parting – with a promise not to undo them until they met again.
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