[Ah, the butterfly keeps getting in the way of the bird-catcher's pole![1]]
Tsurigané ni
Tomarité nemuru
Kochō kana!
[Perched upon the temple-bell, the butterfly sleeps:]
Néru-uchi mo
Asobu-yumé wo ya—
Kusa no chō!
[Even while sleeping, its dream is of play—ah, the butterfly of the grass![2]]
Oki, oki yo!
Waga tomo ni sen,
Néru-kochō!
[Wake up! wake up!—I will make thee my comrade, thou sleeping butterfly.[3]]
- ↑ The bird-catcher's pole is smeared with bird-lime; and the verses suggest that the insect is preventing the man from using his pole, by persistently getting in the way of it,—as the birds might take warning from seeing the butterfly limed. Jama suru means " to hinder " or " prevent."
- ↑ Even while it is resting, the wings of the butterfly may be seen to quiver at moments,—as if the creature were dreaming of flight.
- ↑ A little poem by Bashō, greatest of all Japanese composers of hokku. The verses are intended to suggest the joyous feeling of spring-time.
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