MYS III: 366

A poem, with tanka, composed by Kanamura, Lord Kasa, on board ship at the river port of Tsunoga.

越の海の 角鹿の濱ゆ 大船に 眞楫貫き下ろし 鯨魚取り 海道に出でて 喘きつつ 我が漕ぎ行けば ますらをの 手結が浦に 海女娘子 鹽燒く煙草枕 旅にしあれば ひとりして 見る驗なみ 海神の 手に卷かしたる 玉たすき 懸けて偲ひつ 大和島根を

kosi nö umi nö
tunoga nö pama yu
opobune ni
makadi nukiorosi
izana töri
umidi ni idete
apëkitutu
wa ga kögiyukeba
masurawo nö
tayupi ga ura ni
ama wotöme
sipo yaku keburi
kusa makura
tabi ni si areba
pitöri site
miru sirusi nami
watatumi nö
te ni makasitaru
tamatasuki
kaketesinopitu
yamatö simane wo
By the sea at Koshi,
On the beach at Tsunoga,
From our great ship
We thrust down oars and
On the whale-hunting
Seaway set our course;
As panting, panting
We row on our way,
At the sturdy man’s
Bay of Tayui,
Diver girls and
Smoke drying salt:
On a grass pillow
Journey as this
I am alone and
The sight moves me not;
The sea-god
Has wrapped around His hand
A jewelled cord
Tied to me is my longing
For the isle of Yamato.

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