A tanka from Kokinshu, "You kindle my heart"

In this promises, a woman promises to lover her partner until the waves overrun Mount Suenomatsu, a mountain in northern part of the main island in Japan.

Suenomatsu is the name of a mountain, but “Sue no” means “to the end” and “pine” is a symbol for waiting because it has the same pronunciation as the character “to wait” or “matsu.” So together, the mountain’s name symbolizes “wait until the end.”

My Translation

You kindle my heart

And I will hold the flame

Until the end—

When the waves

Cross over the Mountain Pine!

Original Japanese	Pronunciation

君をおきて	Kimi wo okite
あだし心を	Adashi gokoro wo
わが持たば	Waga motaba
末の松山	Sue no matsu-yama
浪もこえなむ	Nami mo koenan