During the Kanpyō Era [889-897], on the night of the Seventh Day, His Majesty [Emperor Uda] commanded the gentlemen waiting upon him to compose poems; Tomonori composed this poem in place of someone else.
天河あさせしら浪たどりつつわたりはてねばあけぞしにける
| ama no kaFa asase shiranami tadoritutu watariFateneba ake zo sinikeru |
The River of Heaven has Shallows-white wave marked-in ignorance Searching, searching and Unable to cross, yet The dawn has broken. |
Ki no Tomonori (Fl. ca. ?850-?904)
紀友則