SZS XVI: 971

After Prince Tametaka, Commissioner of the Board of Censors, had died, Prince Atsumichi, Governor-General of Dazai, sent her some orange blossom, and so she sent him this, wondering how she should view the gift:

かをる香によそふるよりは時鳥来かばやおなじ声やしたると

kaworu ka ni
yosoFuru yori Fa
Fototogisu
kikaba ya onazi
kowe ya sitaru to
Scenting their fragrance
In place of his – rather
The cuckoo
I would hear, wondering if his call
Is just the same…

Izumi Shikibu
和泉式部

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