otagaki rengetsu

Japanese poem "Butterfly" by Otagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875)

"Sporting and sleeping /
Among the dew in /
A field of flowers- /
In whose dream /
Is this butterfly?"

Entrenando y durmiendo
Entre el rocío
Un campo de flores
De que sueño
es esta mariposa?

Otagaki Rengetsu
'In the fields, in the mountains' poem sheet [tanzaku] 1868
calligraphy, ink on paper
image 36.1 x 5.9 cm; mount 140.0 x 27.0 cm
Private collection, Brussels



In the fields, in the mountains
I was enthralled, so enthralled;
on the way home
the autumn moon accompanied me
right to my bedroom!

(trans. John Stevens)

En los campos, en las montañas
Estaba fascinada, tan cautivada; 
de camino a casa 
la luna de otoño me acompañó 
derecho a mi habitación!