Hana-nusubito wo
Tsukete-yuku!



[Ha! the butterfly! -- it is following the person who stole the flowers!]

Aki no cho
Tomo nakereba ya;
Hito ni tsuku



[Poor autumn butterfly!-- when left without a comrade (of its own race),
it follows after man (or "a person")!]

Owarete mo,
Isoganu furi no
Chocho kana!



[Ah, the butterfly! Even when chased, it never has the air of being in a
hurry.]

Cho wa mina
Jiu-shichi-hachi no
Sugata kana!