A poem composed when the officials of the government headquarters in Dazai had visited the palace at Kashii, and halted their mounts on the shore at Kashii on the way home, in the winter, Eleventh Month, Jinki 5 [729].
いざ子ども香椎の潟に白栲の袖さへ濡れて朝菜摘みてむ
iza kodomo
kasipi no kata ni
sirotape no
sode sape nurete
asana tumitemu
Hey, fellows all!
On the tidelands of Kashii
Even white mulberry
Sleeves are soaked, so
Let’s gather greens for breakfast!
During the final month of Spring on an imperial excursion to the palace at Yoshino, the Middle Councillor, Lord Ōtomo, composed this poem, with tanka, in reponse to an imperial command (this poem has not yet been presented to the throne).
miyosino nö
yosino nö miya pa
yamakara si
taputoku arasi
kapakara si
sayakëku arasi
amë tuti tö
nagaku pisasiku
yöröduyö ni
kaparazu aramu
idemasi nö miya
In Yoshino,
The palace of Yoshino
Has the mountains’ nature –
Awe-inspring;
It has the river’s nature –
Pure and clear;
As heaven and earth
Forever and ever –
A myriad reigns –
Let it remain changeless
This palace to which we have come.