Fifteen Poets of Modern Japan/Tokoku Kitamura
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Tokoku Kitamura
The Parting of the Butterflies
Two butterflies on a branch,
Resting, their wings lowered.
The grass droops beneath the weight of dew;
Flowers fade before the cruelty of autumn.
Resting, their wings lowered.
The grass droops beneath the weight of dew;
Flowers fade before the cruelty of autumn.
Without a sign to each other
The butterflies rise together
And soar away.
Behind them, the lonely field;
Before them, a cold wind.
Their dreams are all of departed spring.
They wonder where to go.
The butterflies rise together
And soar away.
Behind them, the lonely field;
Before them, a cold wind.
Their dreams are all of departed spring.
They wonder where to go.
Two butterflies filled with the same sorrow;
Four wings that are heavy.
Though they fly together
They dread the sword of autumn.
Male and female, both weary,
Return.
Four wings that are heavy.
Though they fly together
They dread the sword of autumn.
Male and female, both weary,
Return.
Again they rest upon the branch—
Rest for a little while—
Two butterflies together.
Rest for a little while—
Two butterflies together.
The evening bell resounds.
Frightened, they rise in air,
One to the east, one to the west.
Looking backward at each other
They fly away.
Frightened, they rise in air,
One to the east, one to the west.
Looking backward at each other
They fly away.
This work is a translation and has a separate copyright status to the applicable copyright protections of the original content.
| Original: |
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse |
|---|---|
| Translation: |
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse |
