A poem to lament that his feelings of sadness were proving impossible to abate as the time of his return to the capital grew near.
我が背子は玉にもがもな霍公鳥声にあへ貫き手に巻きて行かむ
| wa ga seko pa tama ni mogamona pototogisu kowe ni apenuki te ni makite yukamu |
You, my friend, are As a jewel; On a cuckoo’s Call would I thread you, and Go clasping you in hand… |
Ōtomo no Yakamochi
The above poem was presented by Ōtomo sukune Yakamochi to Secretary Ōtomo sukune Ikenushi. 30th day of the Fourth Month.