Hanazakari sugushishi hito wa tsurakeredo koto no ha o sae kakushi ya wa sen - Gosen Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

花盛り過ぐしし人はつらけれど
言の葉をさへ隠しやはせん

Roma-ji: Hanazakari sugushishi hito wa tsurakeredo koto no ha o sae kakushi ya wa sen
English Translation: The one who let pass
the season of full blossom
has been cruel, yet
should I hide away from him
even my leaves of words
Meaning: The one who let the season of full blossom pass without coming has been cruel; yet should I hide away even my leaves of words from him?
Commentary: Book Fourteen Love Poems VI 1048

Headnote: "Composed when a man sent word that he would come when the blossoms were at their height, and then did not come."
The poet says that the one who let the blossom season pass is cruel, yet she will not hide even her words from him. She reproaches the man who promised to come at the height of the blossoms and did not, yet says she will not cut off the words of her letters.
According to the headnote, the man sent word that he would come when the blossoms were at their height, but did not come. The "leaf" of "koto no ha" is associated with "hana," blossom, and the poem divides reproach and affection between blossom and leaf. 1044 in this book also speaks of "koto no ha."
The poet is listed as anonymous, and the composer's name has not come down to us.

The first line, "Hanazakari," means "the height of blossom," the time the man in the headnote promised to come.
The second line, "sugushishi hito wa," means "the one who let it pass."
The third line, "tsurakeredo," means "though he is cruel."
The fourth line, "koto no ha o sae," means "even my words," with the "leaf" of "koto no ha" associated with the blossom of the first line. "Sae" adds one thing to another. "Koto no ha" also appears in the fourth line of 1044 in this book.
The last line, "kakushi ya wa sen," means "would I hide them," with "ya wa" a rhetorical binding particle closed by the attributive "n."
Author: Unknown Poet
Source: Gosen Wakashu
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