Kurenai no kozome no koromo ue ni kimu koi no namida no iro kakuru ya to - Shika Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

紅の濃染めの衣上に着む
恋の涙の色隠るやと

Roma-ji: Kurenai no kozome no koromo ue ni kimu koi no namida no iro kakuru ya to
English Translation: Deep crimson-dyed robes
I will wear on top of all,
hoping they will hide
the color of the tears
that I shed because of love
Meaning: I will wear a robe dyed deep crimson on top, hoping it may hide the color of the tears I weep for love.
Commentary: Book Seven Love Poems I 218

The poet tries to hide sleeves stained by the crimson tears of love, that is, tears of blood, by putting on a robe dyed deep crimson over them. Through this play on color, the poem expresses a secret love that would keep itself from others.

The first line, "kurenai no" (crimson), names the vivid red linked to tears of blood. This poem and the two that follow, through 220, all sing of crimson and tears, unfolding the same color three ways: hiding crimson tears, dyeing sleeves crimson, and tears turning crimson.
The second line, "kozome no koromo," refers to a deeply dyed robe.
The third line, "ue ni kimu," uses the volitional "mu": I will wear it on top. A break falls after the third line.
The fourth line, "koi no namida no" (the tears of love), refers to tears colored like blood, shed in the sorrow of love.
The final line, "iro kakuru ya to," uses "ya" to express the hope that the color may be hidden, giving the reason by inversion.
Source: Shika Wakashu
Prev Poem: Shiragiku no kawaranu iro mo tanomarezu utsurowade yamu aki shi nakereba
Next Poem: Shinoburedo namida zo shiruki kurenai ni mono omou sode wa somu bekarikeri