Poem (MYS II: 379) by Lady Ōtomo of Sakanoue, date mid 8th century

Source:

http://www.wakapoetry.net/mys-iii-379/

Ōtomo no Sakanoue no Iratsume (大伴坂上郎女, born circa 700, died 750), also known as Lady Ōtomo of Sakanoue, was an important Japanese poet with 84 poems in the Man'yōshū.

The poem:

ひさかたの　天の原より　生れ來る　神の命　奧山の　賢木の枝に　しらか付く　木綿取り付けて　齋瓮を　齋ひ掘り据ゑ　竹玉を　繁に貫き垂れ　獸じもの　膝折り伏して　たわや女の　襲取り懸け　かくだにも　我れは祈ひなむ　君に逢はじかも

Romaji (reconstructed Old Japanese):

pisakata nö

ama nö para yori

arekitaru

kamï nö mikötö

okuyama nö

sakakï nö eda ni

siraka tuku

yupu toritukete

ipapipe wo

ipapiporisuwe

takatama wo

sidi ni nukitare

sisidi monö

piza woripusite

tawayame nö

osupi torikake

kaku dani mo

are pa kopinamu

kimi ni apadi ka mo

English translation:

On eternal

Heaven’s field

Were born

The mighty gods:

From deep within the mountains

Comes the branch of sakaki, sacred tree,

Pure white

Mulberry cloth I tie upon it;

Sacred jars,

I bury in the earth;

Bamboo discs

I string close together, and

As a beast

On bended knee, prostrate myself;

A gentle maiden’s

Stole upon me,

And in this way

Do I pray;

But still I may not meet him.