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A Japanese miscellany - University of Oregon

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Dragon-flies 99<br />

Tombo no<br />

Kaide yukikeri<br />

Sute waraji.<br />

Dragon-flies have gone to sniff at a pair <strong>of</strong> cast-<strong>of</strong>f<br />

sandals <strong>of</strong> straw.<br />

Sode ni tsuku<br />

Sumi ka ? — obana ni<br />

Kane-tombo<br />

Is it an ink-stain upon a sleeve?— no: it is only the<br />

black dragon-fly resting upon the obana.^<br />

! !<br />

Hi wa naname<br />

Sekiya no yari ni<br />

Tombo kana<br />

See the dragon-fly perching on the blade <strong>of</strong> the spear<br />

leaning against the rampart-wall I<br />

Tombo no<br />

Kusa ni undeya,<br />

Ushi no tsuno<br />

O dragon-fly ! how<br />

you should thus perch upon the horn <strong>of</strong> a cow I<br />

have you wearied <strong>of</strong> the grass that<br />

^ Obana is another name for the beautiful flowering grass usually<br />

called susuki, and known to botanists as Euiaria Japonica.<br />

!

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