Mi ni shimite omou kokoro no toshi fureba tsui ni iro ni mo idenu beki kana - Shui Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

身にしみて思ふ心の年経れば
つひに色にも出でぬべきかな

Roma-ji: Mi ni shimite omou kokoro no toshi fureba tsui ni iro ni mo idenu beki kana
English Translation: Piercing through my flesh,
the heart that loves has gone on
through the passing years,
and at last into my face
it is sure to show itself.
Meaning: The love that has pierced me to the core has gone on for years, and now at last it is sure to show in my face.
Commentary: Book Eleven Love Poems I 633

Headnote: "Composed when he first began to court the daughter of Masatada, while he was serving as Chamberlain"
The poem says that the love that has pierced the poet to the core has gone on for years and now at last is sure to show in his face. The headnote shows it was composed when Fujiwara no Atsutada, while serving as Chamberlain, first began to court the daughter of Masatada. Telling her that a feeling long hidden can be hidden no more, it serves as a confession of love. With nearly the same phrasing as "tsui ni iro ni zo idenu beki" in 625, it is one of the poems in this book on love showing in one's color.
The author, written as "Gon Chūnagon Atsutada," is Fujiwara no Atsutada. A son of the Minister of the Left Fujiwara no Tokihira, he rose to Provisional Middle Counselor of the Junior Third Rank. He excelled at music, is counted among the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets, and is known for his poem "aimite no" in the Hyakunin Isshu.

First line, "mi ni shimite," means "piercing me to the core," speaking of the depth of feeling.
Second line, "omou kokoro no," means "the heart that loves," the same line as the fourth line of the next poem, 634, "omou kokoro no."
Third line, "toshi fureba," means "since the years have passed," with "ba" after the perfective form expressing cause.
Fourth line, "tsui ni iro ni mo," means "at last into my face," the same phrasing as the second line of 625, "tsui ni iro ni zo."
Final line, "idenu beki kana," means "it is sure to show," with "nu" perfective, "beki" conjectural, and "kana" exclamatory.
Author: Fujiwara no Atsutada
Source: Shui Wakashu
Prev Poem: Yoso ni nomi mite ya wa koimu kurenai no suetsumu hana no iro ni idezu wa
Next Poem: Ikade ka wa shirasesomu beki hito shirezu omou kokoro no iro ni idezu wa