To what shall I

Compare this human life?

To the white wake

Of a boat rowing away

At the break of dawn.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's this:
【世の中を何に譬へむ朝開き漕ぎ去にし船の跡なきごとし】
万葉集351、沙弥満誓の歌です。
 or:
世間を 何に譬へむ 朝開き 漕ぎ去にし船の 跡なきがごと
Yononaka o nani ni tatoen asabiraki kogiinishi fune no atonaki ga goto