Classic Poem

The god
Yachihoko,
unable to find a wife
in the land of the eight islands,
hearing that
in the faraway
land of Koshi
there was a wise maiden,
hearing that
there was a fair maiden,
set out
to woo her,
went out
to win her.

Not even untying
the cord of my sword,
not even untying
my cloak,
I stood there
and pushed and shook,
I stood there
and pulled and shoved
on the wooden door
where the maiden slept.

Then, on the verdant mountains,
the nue bird sang.
The bird of the field,
the pheasant resounded.
The bird of the yard,
the cock crowed.
Ah how hateful
these birds for crying!
Would that I could make them
stop their accursed singing!
These are
the words,
the words handed down
by the heavenly messenger.