み吉野の 玉松が枝は 愛(ﾊ)しきかも 君がみ言(ｺﾄ)を 持ちて通(ｶﾖ)はく
The branches of the jade pine tree of Miyoshino are so generous,
That they bring with them to me your letter so precious.
吉野より苔生(ｺｹﾑ)せる松が枝を折り取りて遣(ﾔ)る時に、額田王の奉(ﾀﾃﾏﾂ)り入るる歌一首
み吉野の 玉松が枝は 愛(ﾊ)しきかも 君がみ言(ｺﾄ)を 持ちて通(ｶﾖ)はく
額田王
(現代語訳)
み吉野の松の枝はいとしい。あなたのお言葉をもって通って来るのだから。
A poem offered by Nukata no Okimi when a branch was sent to her broken off from a pine tree growing in Yoshino.
The branches of the jade pine tree of Miyoshino are so generous,
That they bring with them to me your letter so precious.
Nukata no Okimi
(ｺﾒﾝﾄ; Comment)
弓削皇子が苔の生えた松の枝を折って贈ったのに答えて、額田王が詠んだ。「吉野の松の枝があなたの言葉を持ってきた」と擬人化している。和歌としては常套の技巧である。
In response to Prince Yuge breaking off a moss-covered pine branch and giving it to her, Nukata no Okimi composed the poem to the effect that the pine branch of Yoshino has brought his letter, anthropomorphizing it. This is a common technique in waka poetry.
