Having reached the water, he makes himself low,—the firefly![12]
Kuzu no ha no
Ura, utsu amé ya,
Tobu-hotaru!
The rain beats upon the Kuzu-plant;[13]—away starts the firefly from the underside of the leaf!
Amé no yo wa,
Shita bakari yuku
Hotaru kana!
Ah! this rainy night they only go along the ground,—the fireflies!
Yura-yura to
Ko-amé furu yo no
Hotaru kana!
How they swing themselves, to and fro, the fireflies, on a night of drizzling rain!
Akinuréba,
Kusa nomi zo
Hotaru-kago.
With the coming of dawn, indeed, there is nothing visible but grass in the cage of the firefly!
Yo ga akété,
Mushi ni naritaru
Hotaru kana!