MYS XIX: 4164

A poem composed as a plea to be granted the name of a hero.

ちちの実の 父の命 ははそ葉の 母の命 おほろかに 心尽して 思ふらむ その子なれやも 大夫や 空しくあるべき 梓弓 末振り起し 投矢持ち 千尋射わたし 剣大刀 腰に取り佩き あしひきの 八つ峰踏み越え さしまくる 心障らず 後の世の 語り継ぐべく 名を立つべし

titi no mi no
titi no mikoto
papaso pa no
papa no mikoto
oporoka ni
kokoro tukusite
omopuramu
sono ko nare ya mo
masurawo ya
munasiku arubeki
adusayumi
suwepuriokosi
nageya mochi
tipiro iwatasi
turugitati
kosi ni toripaki
asipiki no
yatuo pumikoe
sasimakuru
kokoro sayarazu
noti no yo no
kataritukubeku
na wo takubesi
An inubiwa fruit,
My noble father;
An oak leaf,
My noble mother,
Dull
With distress
Did think
What sort of son is he?
A brave man’s mettle
Does he lack completely?
A catalpa bow:
The tip I wave and
Send an arrow flying
A thousand yards;
A great sword
Fastened at my waist,
Leg wearying
Many hills and dales I cross,
On orders
Firmly fixed;
Years from now
Will folk ever tell
That I gained such a name!

Ōtomo no Yakamochi
大伴家持

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