Kazasedomo oi mo kakurenu kono haru zo hana no omote wa fusetsu beranaru - Gosen Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

かざせども老いも隠れぬこの春ぞ
花の面は伏せつべらなる

Roma-ji: Kazasedomo oi mo kakurenu kono haru zo hana no omote wa fusetsu beranaru
English Translation: Though I wear them, still
my old age is not concealed;
this spring, it would seem,
the flowers, out of shame for me,
will turn their faces down
Meaning: Though I wear these flowers in my hair, my old age is not hidden—this spring, it seems, the blossoms themselves will hang their faces in shame.
Commentary: Book Three Spring Poems III 96

Headnote: "In the Engi era, when he was summoned among the courtiers of the Privy Chamber and each wore flowers in his cap."
Even flowers in his hair cannot hide his age, the poet says; this spring, the flowers themselves seem likely to hang their heads in shame. Playfully belittling his aged self on a festive occasion, he sets off the beauty of the blossoms.
According to the headnote, it was composed in the Engi era of Emperor Daigo, when the poet was summoned among the courtiers of the Privy Chamber and each wore flowers in his cap. For Mitsune, of low rank, being called to the Privy Chamber was an honor.
The poet, Ōshikōchi no Mitsune, was one of the compilers of the Kokin Wakashū. He served as a minor official in Kai and Izumi provinces and is counted among the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets.

In the first line, "kazasu" means to wear flowers or sprigs in one's hair or cap, and "domo" is adversative. As in "orite kazasamu" of 50 in Book Two, it shows flowers worn at a feast.
The second line, "oi mo kakurenu," means that even adorned with flowers, age cannot be hidden.
In the third line, "zo" forms a kakarimusubi pattern with the attributive "naru" in the last line.
In the fourth line, "omote" means face, or honor, treating the flowers as persons. The phrase "hana no kao" also appears in 128 of this book.
In the last line, "fusu" means to cast down one's face, "tsu" is emphatic, and "beranari" expresses conjecture. He jokes that the flowers will be put to shame by being worn by an old man.
Author: Oshikochi no Mitsune
Source: Gosen Wakashu
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