Tsutsumedomo namida no iro ni arawarete shinobu omoi wa sode yori mo chiru

包めども涙の色にあらはれて
忍ぶ思ひは袖よりも散る

Roma-ji: Tsutsumedomo namida no iro ni arawarete shinobu omoi wa sode yori mo chiru
English Translation: Though I hide it well,
in the color of my tears
it comes to the light—
my secret love spills and scatters
even from out of my sleeves.
Meaning: However much I hide it, it shows in the color of my tears, and my secret love spills even from my sleeves.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 1243

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "One hundred and ten love poems"
However much I hide it, my secret love shows in the crimson of my tears and spills even from my sleeves, the poet says.
Tears of love were said to turn red as blood, and their color appearing on the sleeves betrays hidden feeling. The link of "wrapping" with "sleeves" and the contrast of "hiding" and "showing" form the poem's frame.

First line, “tsutsumedomo”: domo is concessive, "though I hide it."
Second line, “namida no iro ni”: in the color of tears turned crimson.
Third line, “arawarete”: showing outwardly.
Fourth line, “shinobu omoi wa”: the love I keep hidden.
Fifth line, “sode yori mo chiru”: spilling even from my sleeves, sleeves brought in by association with "wrapping."
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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