Yoï-sarazu min
Imo ga atari wa.

[_Though she be far-away, and hidden from me by five hundred
layers of white cloud, still shall I turn my gaze each night
toward the dwelling-place of my younger sister (wife)._]

Aki saréba
Kawagiri tatéru
Amanogawa,
Kawa ni muki-ité
Kru[19] yo zo [=o]ki!

[Footnote 19: For _kofuru_.]

[_When autumn comes, and the river-mists spread over the
Heavenly Stream, I turn toward the river, (and long); and the
nights of my longing are many!_]

Hito-tosé ni
Nanuka no yo nomi
Aü-hito no--
Koï mo tsuki-néba
Sayo zo aké ni keru!

[_But once in the whole year, and only upon the seventh night
(of the seventh month), to meet the beloved person--and
lo! The day has dawned before our mutual love could express
itself!_[20]]