You’re gone and I’m here,
Left behind in a jittering love.
I’d rather catch up
With you – so please tie a mark
At each corner of your paths!
(Vol.2-115)

Princess Tajima was a daughter of Emperor Tenmu, and said to be one of the consorts of Prince Takechi, her own half-brother. The story of a tragic love begins in that she at one point in time later fell in love with another half-brother, Prince Hozumi.
Presumably, around this time, Prince Takechi was about 40 years old, while Prince Hozumi and Princess were around 20 years old. Prince Takechi, being the Grand Minister of Yamato Court, was enjoying a supreme authority in the Government. This tragic love triangle was seemingly a focus of the Imperial Court as well as in the society, and this poem as well as the next one appearing down below (Vol.2-116) were made and handed down as a legendary love story. These poems are listed in Man-Yoh-Shuh as the work of Princess Tajima herself , but perhaps more of a legendary nature.

The following preface appears at the head of this poem:

“This gracious song was made by Princess Tajima, when Prince Hozumi was dispatched by an Imperial Court order to a temple
deep in the mountain in Shiga district, Ohmi Province.”

The word “dispatched” may well be replaced by “banished”, if one is to seek the true sense of the situation.
The temple referred to above is said to be “Suhfuku-ji”, and some remains are only seen in the area. Ohmi is an old name of “Shiga Prefecture” of today.
(Based on Mr. Tada Kazuo, Man-Yoh-Shuh Handbook)