A poem by Chief Border Guard Hasetsukabe no miyatsuko Hitomaro.
於保吉美能 美許等可之古美 伊蘇尓布理 宇乃波良和多流 知知波波乎於伎弖
おほきみの みことかしこみ いそにふり うのはらわたる ちちははをおきて
| opokimi no mikoto kasikomi iso ni puri unopara wataru titipapa wo okite | At my Great Lord’s Dread command, Striking the rocky shore The sea-plain shall I cross Leaving father and mother behind… |
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