Néru-uchi mo
Asobu-yumé wo ya—
Kusa no chō!
[Even while sleeping, its dream is of play—ah, the butterfly of the grass![[4]]
Oki, oki yo!
Waga tomo ni sen,
Néru-kochō!
[Wake up! wake up!—I will make thee my comrade, thou sleeping butterfly.[[5]]]
Kago no tori
Chō wo urayamu
Metsuki kana!
[Ah, the sad expression in the eyes of that caged bird!—envying the butterfly!]
Chō tondé—
Kazé naki hi to mo
Miëzari ki!
[Even though it did not appear to be a windy day,[[6]] the fluttering of the butterflies—!]
Rakkwa éda ni
Kaëru to miréba—
Kochō kana!
[When I saw the fallen flower return to the branch—lo! it was only a butterfly![[7]]]