Waga koi o shinobikanete wa ashihiki no yamatachibana no iro ni idenubeshi - Kokin Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

我が恋を忍びかねてはあしひきの
山橘の色に出でぬべし

Roma-ji: Waga koi o shinobikanete wa ashihiki no yamatachibana no iro ni idenubeshi
English Translation: When I can no longer
hold this love of mine within,
like the mountain orange
on the rugged mountainside,
its color will surely show
Meaning: When I can no longer hide my love, it will surely show its color, just as the berries of the mountain orange turn bright red.
Commentary: Book Thirteen Love Poems III 668

Headnote: "Topic unknown."
When the poet can no longer hide his love, it will surely show, just as the berries of the mountain orange turn red. The yamatachibana, which bears vivid red berries in winter, becomes a figure for a love that shows itself despite every effort to hide it.
The author, recorded as Tomonori, is Ki no Tomonori. He was a son of Ki no Aritomo and an elder cousin of Ki no Tsurayuki. He was one of the compilers of the Kokinshu and is counted among the Thirty-Six Poetic Immortals.
Following the preceding poem's pain of being unable to endure, this one says love will at last show its color, leading into the group of poems, from the next one on, about rumors of love arising.

The first line, "waga koi o," means "this love of mine."
The second line, "shinobikanete wa," means "when I can no longer hide it," the auxiliary kanu meaning "unable to."
The third line, "ashihiki no," is a pillow word for "mountain."
The fourth line, "yamatachibana no," names the marlberry, which bears red berries in winter, leading into "show its color."
The final line, "iro ni idenubeshi," means "it will surely show," the perfective nu and conjectural beshi expressing certainty.
Author: Ki no Tomonori
Source: Kokin Wakashu
Prev Poem: Shita ni nomi koureba kurushi tama no o no taete midaremu hito na togame so
Next Poem: Ōkata wa waga na mo minato kogiidenamu yo o umibeta ni mirume sukunashi