Kaku bakari fukaki iro ni mo utsurou o nao kimi kiku no hana to iwanan - Gosen Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

かくばかり深き色にもうつろふを
なほ君きくの花と言はなん

Roma-ji: Kaku bakari fukaki iro ni mo utsurou o nao kimi kiku no hana to iwanan
English Translation: Though it has faded
into so deep and rich a hue,
I would have you still
call it the flower that hears,
the chrysanthemum, for me
Meaning: This chrysanthemum has deepened into so rich a hue—so, even now, I wish you would call it the flower that "listens," and give ear to me at last.
Commentary: Book Thirteen Love Poems V 963

Headnote: "Sent attached to a chrysanthemum that had changed its color, when someone he had courted for years remained cold."
The poet says that since the chrysanthemum has changed into so deep a color, he would still have her call it the flower that "listens." Overlaying the chrysanthemum deepened to purple by frost with his own love deepened over the years, he hopes she will at least answer that she hears him.
According to the headnote, someone he had courted for years remained cold, so he sent this tied to a chrysanthemum whose color had changed. Joining the flower's name with "kiku," to hear, he entrusts his wish to the very flower he sends.
The poet, listed as "Kiyokage no Ason," was Minamoto no Kiyokage. A son of Emperor Yozei, he was made a commoner with the surname Minamoto and rose to Major Counselor.

The first line, "Kaku bakari," means "this much."
The second line, "fukaki iro ni mo," means "even into so deep a color," overlaying the deepening color of the flower with the depth of his feeling.
The third line, "utsurou o," means "it has changed, and yet," the white chrysanthemum turning purple under frost.
The fourth line, "nao kimi kiku no," means "still, you, of the chrysanthemum," with "kiku" joining the chrysanthemum and "kiku," to hear his plea.
The last line, "hana to iwanan," means "I wish you would call it the flower," with "nan," a form of "namu," a final particle of desire directed at another.
Author: Minamoto no Kiyokage
Source: Gosen Wakashu
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