Omigoromo kozo bakari koso narezarame kyō no hikage no kakete dani toe - Shin Kokin Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

小忌衣去年ばかりこそ馴れざらめ
今日の日かげのかけてだに問へ

Roma-ji: Omigoromo kozo bakari koso narezarame kyō no hikage no kakete dani toe
English Translation: Robes of the rites—
though we may not grow as close
as we did last year,
with today's sun-vine hung, at least
keep me in mind, and write
Meaning: Though we may not grow as close as last year, when we served in the ritual robes, today, when the sun-vine is hung on our caps, at least keep me in your heart and write to me.
Commentary: Book Fifteen Love Poems V 1419

Headnote: "Sent the following year to someone I had seen at the palace at the time of the Gosechi dances."
This is the first poem of the sequence on unforgettable longing. To someone first seen at last year's Gosechi, he asks that, even if they cannot be as close as last year, she at least keep him in her heart and write on this day. According to the headnote, it was sent the following year to someone he had seen at the palace at the time of the Gosechi dances.
The author, "Fujiwara no Korenari," served Emperor Kazan as a close attendant, holding posts such as Provisional Middle Controller of the Left, and took the tonsure when the emperor abdicated and became a monk.
The Gosechi was the offering of dances by dancing girls at the Toyonoakari banquet after the Niiname or Daijō harvest rites in the eleventh month. Omigoromo is the robe worn by those serving in Shinto rites, and hikage is the sun-vine hung on the cap on such occasions.

The first line, "omigoromo," is the robe worn by those serving in rites. It recalls the time they served together at last year's Gosechi.
The second line, "kozo bakari koso," means "as much as last year," and the particle "koso" governs the third line.
The third line, "narezarame," closes the kakari-musubi of "koso" with the perfective form "me": "we may not grow close," continuing concessively. "Nare" overlays a robe growing familiar through wear with people growing close, and is associated with the robe.
In the fourth line, "kyō no hikage no," "hikage" is the sun-vine hung on the cap, echoing also sunlight. It is an image of this day of the Gosechi.
In the last line, "kakete dani toe," "kakete" is a pivot word joining "hanging" the sun-vine on the cap and "keeping in mind." "Dani" means "at least." Taking up the broken-off messages of the preceding group, this poem asks at least for a letter.
Author: Fujiwara no Korenari
Source: Shin Kokin Wakashu
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