Tag Archives: jewel

MYS XVII: 4007

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.