Furihaete iza furusato no hana mimu to koshi o nioi zo utsuroinikeru - Kokin Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

ふりはへていざふるさとの花見むと
こしをにほひぞうつろひにける

Roma-ji: Furihaete iza furusato no hana mimu to koshi o nioi zo utsuroinikeru
English Translation: Going to the trouble,
"Come, to my old village
to see the blossoms!"—
yet when I came, their color
had already faded away.
Meaning: I made a special journey, saying, "Come, let us see the blossoms of the old village"—but when I arrived, their bloom had already faded.
Commentary: Book Ten Names of Things 441

Headnote: "Aster"
This poem tells how the speaker took the trouble to go and see the blossoms of the old village, only to find their color already faded. The title "shion" (Tatarian aster, written "shiwoni") is hidden in "koshi o nioi zo" in the fourth line. It conveys the disappointment of finding the flowers of a longed-for place past their prime, and the loneliness of blossoms that fade.
The poet is recorded as "anonymous," and the name has not come down to us.

First line "Furihaete" means "going out of one's way, on purpose."
Second line "iza furusato no" uses "iza," a word of invitation, and "furusato" means a village once lived in or an old, faded capital.
Third line "hana mimu to" means "intending to see the blossoms," giving the reason for the visit.
Fourth line "koshi o nioi zo" means "though I came, the bloom." The "o" after "koshi" is concessive, and the title "shiwoni" is hidden in "koshi o ni." The particle "zo" reaches to the ending of the fifth line.
Fifth line "utsuroinikeru" closes in the attributive form in answer to "zo," expressing disappointment that the bloom had already faded.
Author: Unknown Poet
Source: Kokin Wakashu
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