In the Tenryaku period, when the Ichijō Regent [Fujiwara no Koretada] was Head Chamberlain, His Majesty lost his belt to him while playing go. The games continued, and Koretada’s losses mounted, so His Majesty composed this poem to ask for the return of his belt.
白浪の打ちやかへすと待つほどに浜の真砂の数ぞ積もれる
| siranami no uti ya kaFesu to matu Fodo ni Fama no masago no kazu zo tumoreru |
Wondering when the whitecaps Will return, and While waiting The grains of sand upon the beach Increase in number! |
Emperor Murakami