MYS IX: 1800

A poem composed upon passing the hill of Ashigara and seeing the body of a man who had died.

小垣内の 麻を引き干し 妹なねが 作り着せけむ 白栲の 紐をも解かず 一重結ふ 帶を三重結ひ 苦しきに 仕へ奉りて 今だにも 國に罷りて 父母も 妻をも見むと 思ひつつ 行きけむ君は 鷄が鳴く 東の國の 畏きや 神の御坂に 和妙の 衣寒らに ぬばたまの 髮は亂れて 國問へど 國をも告らず 家問へど 家をも言はず ますらをの 行きのまにまに ここに臥やせる

wokakitu nö
asa wo pikiposi
imo nane ga
tukurikisekemu
sirotapë no
pimo wo mo tokazu
pitö pe yupu
obi wo mi pe yupi
kurusiki ni
tukapematurite
ima dani mo
kuni ni makarite
titi papa mo
tuma wo mo mimu tö
omopitutu
yukikemu kimi pa
töri ga naku
aduma nö kuni nö
kasikoki ya
kamï nö misaka ni
nikipada no
körömo samurani
nubatama no
kami pa midarete
kuni topedö
kuni wo mo norazu
ipe topedö
ipe wo mo ipazu
masurawo nö
yuki nö manimani
kökö ni koyaseru
Within your small-fenced home
Was drawn and dried the hemp
By your wife, or mayhap sister, dear
Perhaps, she made for and clothed you
In a white barken
Belt-you never would undo-
A single strand of belt
Wrapped three times round you;
And though you suffered,
In your service to the Court
At long last,
Were you ordered to the provinces
Your mother and father,
And your wife too, to see;
With such thoughts,
You, no doubt, made your way
To the bird-calling
Eastern lands:
An awesome
God dwells on this hill-
A soft skin,
Your clothes seem cold-
Lily-seed black
Hair in tangles;
And though I ask your land,
You will not say;
And though ask your home,
You will not say;
A sturdy man
Proceeding on your way,
Lying in this place.

Tanabe no Sakimaro (active 740s)

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