KKS 42

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Text

初瀬はつせにまうづる毎ごとに宿りける人の家に久しく宿らで、程経て、後に至れりければ、かの家の主あるじ、「かく定さだかになん宿りはある」と言ひ出して侍りければ、そこに立てりける梅の花を折てよめる

When he made visits to Hatsuse, he stayed in a certain person's house, and he had not visited for a long time. After some time had passed he went there again, and the owner of the house said "This lodging has not changed," and [Tsurayuki] broke off a plum flower from a tree standing there, and read this

貫之

Ki no Tsurayuki

人はいさ心も知らず故郷は花ぞ昔の香に匂ひける

hito wa isa kokoro mo shira-zu furusato wa hana zo mukashi no ka ni nioi-keru

For people, well, I do not know their hearts In this old village It is the flowers' scent That smells the same as of old.

Notes

Hatsuse

This is the temple of Hasedera (長谷寺) in Nara, which was a common pilgrimage destination of the Heian upper class.

certain person

This may be a woman who Tsurayuki has had a relationship with, or it could be a male friend.

"This lodging has not changed"

The meaning of this seems to be "Why haven't you stayed here recently?"

Other sources:

• Shūka daitai | Hyakunin isshu

Analysis

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