Nabikafu miréba,
Toki kitarurashi.

[_When I see the water-grasses of the River of Heaven bend
in the autumn wind (I think to myself): "The time (for our
meeting) seems to have come."_]

Waga séko ni
Ura-koi oréba,
Amanogawa
Yo-funé kogi-toyomu
Kaji no 'to kikoyu.

[_When I feel in my heart a sudden longing for my
husband_,[17] _then on the River of Heaven the sound of the
rowing of the night-boat is heard, and the plash of the oar
resounds._]

[Footnote 17: In ancient Japanese the word _séko_ signified either
husband or elder brother. The beginning of the poem might also be
rendered thus:--"When I feel a secret longing for my husband," etc.]

T[=o]-zuma to
Tamakura kawashi
Nétaru yo wa,
Tori-gané na naki
Akéba aku to mo!

[_In the night when I am reposing with my (now) far-away
spouse, having exchanged jewel-pillows_[18] _with her, let not