Tachinagara kite dani miseyo omigoromo akanu mukashi no wasuregatami ni - Shin Kokin Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

たちながら着てだに見せよ小忌衣
飽かぬ昔の忘れ形見に

Roma-ji: Tachinagara kite dani miseyo omigoromo akanu mukashi no wasuregatami ni
English Translation: Just as it is cut,
standing, put it on at least
and let me see it,
this ritual robe, a keepsake
of days I cannot forget.
Meaning: Just as it is cut, stand and put on this ritual robe at least and let me see it, as a keepsake of days gone by that I can never have enough of.
Commentary: Book Eighteen Miscellaneous Poems III 1799

Headnote: "When I made the braided cords of sunshade for the Great Thanksgiving Festival in the reign of Emperor Go-Reizei and sent them to Sanemoto Ason, recalling the reign of the late emperor, I added this."
A poem longing for sacred rites of the past. At least put on the ritual robe and let me see it, as a keepsake of days I can never have enough of. According to the headnote, it was sent with braided sunshade cords made for Emperor Go-Reizei's Great Thanksgiving Festival to Sanemoto Ason, recalling the reign of the late emperor. Following the two preceding poems, it longs for a vanished reign through the garments of sacred rites.
Who is meant by "Kaga Ason" is not certain. "Ason" is an honorific added to the names of those of the fifth rank and above.
The Great Thanksgiving Festival is the first harvest festival an emperor holds after his accession. The omigoromo is a white robe printed with patterns in mountain indigo, worn by those who serve in such rites.

In the first line, "tachinagara," "tachi" is a pivot word meaning both "cutting" cloth and "standing," giving "just as it is cut" and "just as you stand."
The second line, "kite dani miseyo," means "at least put it on and show me." "Dani" expresses a minimal wish, and the poem pauses here.
The third line, "omigoromo," is the robe worn by those serving in sacred rites. Like the "robe of mountain indigo" of the two preceding poems it is printed with mountain indigo, and poems on the garments of rites continue.
The fourth line, "akanu mukashi no," means "of the past I can never have enough of," referring to the reign of the late emperor.
The last line, "wasuregatami ni," means "as a keepsake." Through inversion it gives the reason for the request, voicing longing for a vanished reign.
Author: Kaga Ason
Source: Shin Kokin Wakashu
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