in the majority of cases, would signify almost nothing to the Western mind. Here, for example, is a little verse, pathetic enough to Japanese comprehension:—
Chōchō ni!…
Kyonen shishitaru
Tsuma koishi!
Translated, this would appear to mean only,—“Two butterflies! … Last year my dear wife died!” Unless you happen to know the pretty Japanese symbolism of the butterfly in relation to happy marriage, and the old custom of sending with the wedding-gift a large pair of paper-butterflies (ochō-méchō), the verse might well seem to be less than commonplace. Or take this recent composition, by a University student, which has been praised by good judges:—
Furusato ni
Fubo ari—mushi no
Koë-goë![1]
—“In my native place the old folks [or, my parents] are—clamor of insect-voices!” …
- ↑ I must observe, however, that the praise was especially evoked by the use of the term koë-goë—(literally meaning “voice after voice” or a crying of many voices);—and the special value of the syllables here can be appreciated only by a Japanese poet.
