Omoitsutsu henikeru toshi o shirube nite narenuru mono wa kokoro narikeri - Gosen Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

思ひつつ経にける年をしるべにて
馴れぬるものは心なりけり

Roma-ji: Omoitsutsu henikeru toshi o shirube nite narenuru mono wa kokoro narikeri
English Translation: Longing all the while,
I took the years that have passed
to be my guide,
and what has grown at home with you
has been my heart alone
Meaning: Longing all the while, I let the passing years be my guide, and what has grown familiar with you is my heart alone.
Commentary: Book Fourteen Love Poems VI 1021

Headnote: "Topic unknown."
The poet says that, guided by the years spent in longing, it was the heart that grew familiar with the beloved. Though they could not meet, through long years of yearning his heart alone has learned the way to the beloved and grown at home there.
Like 1012 in this book, it opens with "omoitsutsu"; where that poem told of a love not yet spoken, this one tells of a love grown through years. The word "shirube," guide, is shared with 1007 in this book, where longing served as the guide.
The poet is listed as anonymous, and the composer's name has not come down to us.

The first line, "Omoitsutsu," means "longing all the while," the same as the first line of 1012 in this book.
The second line, "henikeru toshi o," means "the years that have passed," with "nikeru" auxiliaries of completion and past.
The third line, "shirube nite," means "as my guide," using the same word as "shirube narikeru" in the last line of 1007 in this book.
The fourth line, "narenuru mono wa," means "what has grown familiar."
The last line, "kokoro narikeri," means "was my heart," with "keri" expressing the exclamation of a realization.
Author: Unknown Poet
Source: Gosen Wakashu
Prev Poem: Ika ni shite koto katarawan hototogisu nageki no shita ni nakeba kai nashi
Next Poem: Ware naranu hito suminoe no kishi ni idete naniwa no kata o uramitsuru kana