Waterweed 萍
涙川みなとにうかぶうき草のうきねとどめむかたのなきかな
namidagawa
minato ni ukabu
ukikusa no
ukine todomemu
kata no naki kana | On the river of tears lies
A harbour where floats
A waterweed –
To bring a halt to sorrowful, solitary sleep is
There no way at all! |
Akinaka
港風寒く吹くらし奈呉の江に妻呼び交し鶴多に鳴く
minato kaze
samuku pukurasi
nago no e ni
tuma yobikapasi
tadusapa ni naku |
The wind from off the harbor
Blows chill, and
Across the inlet of Nago
Calling to their mates
Are many noisy cranes… |
Ōtomo no Yakamochi
大伴家持
'Simply moving and elegant'