Thought I, the fallen flowers

Thought I, the fallen flowers... by Arakida Moritake, translated by William George Aston

Source: W. G. Aston. A history of Japanese literature, CHAPTER IV, 1899

* * * " Thought I, the fallen flowers Are returning to their branch; But lo! they were butterflies."      transl. 1899

Notes:

落花枝にかへると見れば胡蝶哉 守武

落花枝にかへると見れば胡ちょかな 守武

rakka eda ni / kaeru to mireba / kochō kana (6-7-5)