GSS 796

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Text

わすれにける女を思いでゝつかはしける　

He remembered a woman he had forgotten, and sent this.

よみ人しらず

Poet unknown

打返し　見まくぞほしき　故郷の　やまとなでしこ　色やかはれる

Once again I would like to see it. Has the color of the pink in the old village changed? (Once again I would like to meet you. Have the feelings of the beautiful woman in the place I used to visit changed?)

Textual Variants

• わすれにける] わすれ侍りにける（堀・坊）
• 女を] 女のもとに（雲・慶）
• 見まくぞほしき] 見まくほしきい（坊）

Other Sources

• 古今和歌六帖２８９６・おもひいづ・つらゆき.

Notes

打返し

「立かへりといはんが如し」（新抄）See GSS 512.「くり返しの意に、しきりに思いがつのる意を重ねる」（全釈）There is split opinion on whether this means "over and over again" or "one more time".

故郷の

A metaphor for the place/woman the poet used to visit, with a kind of 懐かしい feeling. Kudo also indicates this is being used as a kind of pillow word for やまと.

やまとなでしこ

The woman herself. Katagiri notes that this is often used with women who are hidden or living in obscurity.

色やかはれる

A metaphor for the woman changing her affection.「そなたには、早心がはりもやしけんとの心を、撫子にそへていへり」（八代集抄）. See GSS 380, GSS 674.

Analysis

The poet is trying to reignite an old relationship, using common flower metaphors to praise the woman's beauty while also checking to see if she still cares for him. Despite the accusatory nature of the poem, its primary purpose is to see if the woman is interested in resuming their relationship.

KKS 695 あなこひし今もみてしが山がつのかきほにさけるやまとなでしこ

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