KKS 48

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Text

題しらず

Topic unknown

よみ人しらず

Poet unknown

散りぬとも香をだにの残せ梅の花恋しき時の思ひ出にせん

chiri-nu to mo ka wo da ni nokose mume no hana koisiki toki no omoi-ide-ni se-n

Though you will scatter Leave at least your scent behind! Plum flowers When I am filled with longing It shall serve as memory.

Analysis

This poem has a direct, simple theme and wording, and the overall meaning is clear. The scent of the plums reoccurs from the previous poem, and as before, is associated with the incense perfume of the sleeves. In contrast to the previous poem where Sosei finds the scent of the plums annoying, here the poet personifies the flowers and begs them to leave their scent behind to remember them by.

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