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— 16 —
Tsurigane ni
Tomarite nemuru
Kochō kana!
[Perched upon the temple-bell, the butterfly sleeps:]
Neru-uchi mo
Asobu-ytime wo ya —
Kusa no chō!
[Even while sleeping, its dream is of play—ah, the butterfly of the grass!]
Oki, oki yo!
Waga tomo ni sen,
Neru-kockō!
[Wake up! wake up!—I will make thee my comrade, thou sleeping butterfly.]
Kago no tori
Chō wo urayamu
Metsuki kana!
[Ah, the sad expression in the eyes of that caged bird!—envying the butterfly!]
Chō tonde—
Kaze naki hi to mo
Miezari ki!
[Even though it did not appear to be a windy day, the fluttering of the butterflies—!]
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