Koe ni tatete iwanedo shirushi kuchinashi no iro wa waga tame usuki narikeri - Gosen Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

声に立てて言はねどしるしくちなしの
色は我がためうすきなりけり

Roma-ji: Koe ni tatete iwanedo shirushi kuchinashi no iro wa waga tame usuki narikeri
English Translation: Though not said aloud,
not spoken, it is plain to see:
the gardenia's,
the mouthless flower's hue,
for me runs pale indeed
Meaning: Though not spoken aloud, it is plain enough: the color of the gardenia, the "mouthless" flower, is pale where I am concerned—as pale as your regard.
Commentary: Book Seventeen Miscellaneous Poems III 1216

Headnote: "When I sent to a place that had gardenia to ask for some, and its color was very poor."
The poet says that, though not said aloud, it is plain that the gardenia's color runs pale for him. Through the name "kuchinashi," mouthless, and "usuki," pale, he mocks the giver's coolness in sending gardenia of such poor color.
According to the headnote, he asked a place that had gardenia for some, and what came was of very poor color.
The poet is anonymous and the name is not known.

The first line, "Koe ni tatete," means "raising one's voice," with an extra syllable; it is linked with "kuchinashi" in the third line.
The second line, "iwanedo shirushi," means "though not said, it is plain," and the poem pauses here.
The third line, "kuchinashi no," is a pivot word joining "kuchinashi," the gardenia used for dye, with "kuchinashi," mouthless, not speaking.
The fourth line, "iro wa waga tame," means "the color, for me."
The last line, "usuki narikeri," is a pivot word: "usuki" is both pale in color and thin in feeling, with "narikeri" for realization.
Author: Unknown Poet
Source: Gosen Wakashu
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