He is coming, my long-desired lord, whom I have been waiting to meet here, on the banks of the River of Heaven. ... The moment of loosening my girdle is nigh.
Over the Rapids of the Everlasting Heaven, floating in his boat, my lord will doubtless deign to come to me this very night.
Though winds and clouds to either bank may freely come or go, between myself and my far-away spouse no message whatever may pass.
To the opposite bank one might easily fling a pebble; yet, being separated from him by the River of Heaven, alas! to hope for a meeting (except in autumn) is utterly useless.
From the day that the autumn wind began to blow (I kept saying to myself), " Ah! when shall we meet? " — but now my beloved, for whom I waited and longed, has come indeed!
Though the waters of the River of Heaven have not greatly risen (yet, to cross) this near stream and to wait upon my lord and lover remains impossible.
Though she is so near that the waving of her (long) sleeves can be distinctly seen, yet there is no way to cross the stream before the season of autumn.
When we were separated, I had seen her for a moment only, — and dimly as one sees a flying midge; now I must vainly long for her as before, until time of our next meeting!
Methinks that Hikoboshi must be rowing his boat to meet his wife, — for a mist (as of oar-spray) is rising over the course of the Heavenly Stream.
While awaiting my lord on the misty shore of the River of Heaven, the skirts of my robe have somehow become wet.
On the River of Heaven, at the place of the august ferry, the sound of the water has become loud: perhaps my long-awaited lord will soon be coming in his boat.
As Tanabata (slumbers) with her long sleeves rolled up, until the reddening of the dawn, do not, O storks of the river-shallows, awaken her by your cries.
(She sees that) a mist is spreading across the River of Heaven. ... " To-day, to-day, " she thinks, " my long-awaited lord will probably come over in his boat. "
By the ferry of Yasu, on the River of Heaven, the boat is floating: I pray you tell my beloved that I stand here and wait.
Though I (being a Star-god) can pass freely to and fro, through the great sky, — yet to cross over the River of Heaven, for your sake, was weary work indeed!
From the august Age of the God-of-Eight-Thousand-Spears, she had been my spouse in secret only; yet now, because of my constant longing for her, our relation has become known to man.
From the time when heaven and earth were parted, she has been my own wife; — yet, to be with her, I must always wait till autumn.
With my beloved, of the ruddy-tinted cheeks, this night indeed will I descend into the bed of the River of Heaven, to sleep on a pillow of stone.
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. "
When I feel in my heart a sudden longing for my husband, then on the River of Heaven the sound of the rowing of the night-boat is heard, and the plash of the oars resounds.
In the night when I am reposing with my (now) far-away spouse, having exchanged jewel-pillows with her, let not the cock crow, even though the day should dawn.
Though for a myriad ages we should remain hand-in-hand and face to face, our exceeding love could never come to an end. (Why then should Heaven deem it necessary to part us?)
The white cloth which Tanabata has woven for my sake, in that dwelling of hers, is now, I think, being made into a robe for me.
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).
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!
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 (or " satisfy " ) itself!
The love-longing of one whole year having ended to-night, every day from to-morrow I must again pine for him as before.
Hikoboshi and Tanabata-tsume are to meet each other to-night; — ye waves of the River of Heaven, take heed that ye do not rise!
Oh! that white cloud driven by the autumn-wind — can it be the heavenly hire of Tanabata-tsume?
Because he is my not-often-to-be-met beloved, hasten to row the boat across the River of Heaven ere the night be advanced.
Late in the night, a mist spreads over the River of Heaven; and the sound of the oar of Hikoboshi is heard.
On the River of Heaven a sound of plashing can be distinctly heard: is it the sound of the rippling made by Hikoboshi quickly rowing his boat?
Perhaps this evening shower is but the spray (flung down) from the oar of Hikoboshi, rowing his boat in haste.
From to-morrow, alas! after having put my jewel-bed in order, no longer reposing with my lord, I must sleep alone!
The wind having risen, the waves of the river have become high; — this night cross over in a row-boat, I pray thee, before the hour be late!
Even though the waves of the River of Heaven run high, I must row over quickly, before it becomes late in the night.
Long ago I finished weaving the material; and, this evening, having finished sewing the garment for him — (why must) I still wait for my lord?
Is it that the current of the River of Heaven (has become too) rapid? The jet-black night advances — and Hikoboshi has not come!
Oh, ferryman, make speed across the stream! — my lord is not one who can come and go twice in a year!
On the very day that the autumn-wind began to blow, I set out for the shallows of the River of Heaven; — I pray you, tell my lord that I am waiting here still!
Methinks Tanabata must be coming in her boat; for a cloud is even now passing across the clear face of the moon.
Over the Rapids of the Everlasting Heaven, floating in his boat, my lord will doubtless deign to come to me this very night.
Though winds and clouds to either bank may freely come or go, between myself and my far-away spouse no message whatever may pass.
To the opposite bank one might easily fling a pebble; yet, being separated from him by the River of Heaven, alas! to hope for a meeting (except in autumn) is utterly useless.
From the day that the autumn wind began to blow (I kept saying to myself), " Ah! when shall we meet? " — but now my beloved, for whom I waited and longed, has come indeed!
Though the waters of the River of Heaven have not greatly risen (yet, to cross) this near stream and to wait upon my lord and lover remains impossible.
Though she is so near that the waving of her (long) sleeves can be distinctly seen, yet there is no way to cross the stream before the season of autumn.
When we were separated, I had seen her for a moment only, — and dimly as one sees a flying midge; now I must vainly long for her as before, until time of our next meeting!
Methinks that Hikoboshi must be rowing his boat to meet his wife, — for a mist (as of oar-spray) is rising over the course of the Heavenly Stream.
While awaiting my lord on the misty shore of the River of Heaven, the skirts of my robe have somehow become wet.
On the River of Heaven, at the place of the august ferry, the sound of the water has become loud: perhaps my long-awaited lord will soon be coming in his boat.
As Tanabata (slumbers) with her long sleeves rolled up, until the reddening of the dawn, do not, O storks of the river-shallows, awaken her by your cries.
(She sees that) a mist is spreading across the River of Heaven. ... " To-day, to-day, " she thinks, " my long-awaited lord will probably come over in his boat. "
By the ferry of Yasu, on the River of Heaven, the boat is floating: I pray you tell my beloved that I stand here and wait.
Though I (being a Star-god) can pass freely to and fro, through the great sky, — yet to cross over the River of Heaven, for your sake, was weary work indeed!
From the august Age of the God-of-Eight-Thousand-Spears, she had been my spouse in secret only; yet now, because of my constant longing for her, our relation has become known to man.
From the time when heaven and earth were parted, she has been my own wife; — yet, to be with her, I must always wait till autumn.
With my beloved, of the ruddy-tinted cheeks, this night indeed will I descend into the bed of the River of Heaven, to sleep on a pillow of stone.
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. "
When I feel in my heart a sudden longing for my husband, then on the River of Heaven the sound of the rowing of the night-boat is heard, and the plash of the oars resounds.
In the night when I am reposing with my (now) far-away spouse, having exchanged jewel-pillows with her, let not the cock crow, even though the day should dawn.
Though for a myriad ages we should remain hand-in-hand and face to face, our exceeding love could never come to an end. (Why then should Heaven deem it necessary to part us?)
The white cloth which Tanabata has woven for my sake, in that dwelling of hers, is now, I think, being made into a robe for me.
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).
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!
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 (or " satisfy " ) itself!
The love-longing of one whole year having ended to-night, every day from to-morrow I must again pine for him as before.
Hikoboshi and Tanabata-tsume are to meet each other to-night; — ye waves of the River of Heaven, take heed that ye do not rise!
Oh! that white cloud driven by the autumn-wind — can it be the heavenly hire of Tanabata-tsume?
Because he is my not-often-to-be-met beloved, hasten to row the boat across the River of Heaven ere the night be advanced.
Late in the night, a mist spreads over the River of Heaven; and the sound of the oar of Hikoboshi is heard.
On the River of Heaven a sound of plashing can be distinctly heard: is it the sound of the rippling made by Hikoboshi quickly rowing his boat?
Perhaps this evening shower is but the spray (flung down) from the oar of Hikoboshi, rowing his boat in haste.
From to-morrow, alas! after having put my jewel-bed in order, no longer reposing with my lord, I must sleep alone!
The wind having risen, the waves of the river have become high; — this night cross over in a row-boat, I pray thee, before the hour be late!
Even though the waves of the River of Heaven run high, I must row over quickly, before it becomes late in the night.
Long ago I finished weaving the material; and, this evening, having finished sewing the garment for him — (why must) I still wait for my lord?
Is it that the current of the River of Heaven (has become too) rapid? The jet-black night advances — and Hikoboshi has not come!
Oh, ferryman, make speed across the stream! — my lord is not one who can come and go twice in a year!
On the very day that the autumn-wind began to blow, I set out for the shallows of the River of Heaven; — I pray you, tell my lord that I am waiting here still!
Methinks Tanabata must be coming in her boat; for a cloud is even now passing across the clear face of the moon.