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A Japanese miscellany - University of Oregon

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Dragon-flies 111<br />

Even as the shadow <strong>of</strong> a dragon-fly 1 1 have become, by<br />

reason <strong>of</strong> the slightness <strong>of</strong> your love.<br />

Obotsu kana<br />

Yume ka ? utsusu ka ?<br />

Kagero no<br />

Honomeku yori mo<br />

Hakanakarishi wa<br />

!<br />

! !<br />

O my doubt ! Is it a dream or a reality ? —<br />

than even the dim flitting <strong>of</strong> a dragon-fly !<br />

Happy dragon-fly !<br />

never even uttering a cry !<br />

eyes I<br />

Tombo ya<br />

Mi wo mo kogasazu,<br />

!<br />

2<br />

more fugitive<br />

Naki mo sezu<br />

— never self-consumed by longing,—<br />

Strangeness and Beauty<br />

Tombo no<br />

Kao wa okata<br />

Medama kana<br />

O the face <strong>of</strong> the dragon-fly I —<br />

!<br />

almost nothing but<br />

» The word kagiro here means " dragon-fly." There is another word<br />

kagero meaning "gossamer." Though written alilte in Romaji, these<br />

two terms are represented in <strong>Japanese</strong> by very different characters.<br />

2 The thought suggested is, — "Can it be true that we were ever<br />

united, even for a moment? "

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