Izumi Shikibu's poem to Prince Tametaka in response to his poem about the scent of tachibana flowers, year circa 1002

Sources:

The Diary of Izumi Shikibu (Izumi Shikibu Nikki), written from circa 1002 to 1003

Original version, edited by Hokiichi Hanawa:

https://ja.wikisource.org/wiki/%E5%92%8C%E6%B3%89%E5%BC%8F%E9%83%A8%E6%97%A5%E8%A8%98

English translation in Diaries of Court Ladies of Old Japan (1920), compiled and translated by Annie Shepley Omori and Kochi Doi

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Diaries_of_Court_Ladies_of_Old_Japan/3

Above: Izumi Shikibu, artist unknown.

Izumi Shikibu (Japanese: 和泉式部, born circa 976) was a mid-Heian period Japanese poet. She is a member of the Thirty-six Medieval Poetry Immortals (中古三十六歌仙, chūko sanjurokkasen). She was the contemporary of Murasaki Shikibu, and Akazome Emon at the court of empress Joto Mon'in.

She "is considered by many to have been the greatest woman poet of the Heian period". Her legacy includes 242 poems and two kashu.

"Torn between worldly ties and physical desire, Izumi Shikibu left a wealth of passionate love poetry, fueling rumors that purported that she was a femme fatale with numerous lovers besides her two husbands and two princely lovers."

The poem:

同しえになきつゝをりし郭公聲はかはらぬものとしらなん

Romaji transliteration (in reconstructed Early Middle Japanese):

Dou si e ni nakitu orisi kwakkou kowe wa ka faranu mono to sira nan

Romaji transliteration (with modernised spelling):

Dō shi e ni nakitsu orishi kakkō koe wa ka haranu mono to shira nan

English translation:

That scent, indeed, brings memories

But rather, to be reminded of that other,

Would hear the cuckoo's voice.