Japanese
Rōmaji
紅ひとひら 風に揺られて落ちた
祝いの花か 死花花か
産着は帷子
とうに野火手は落ちて
常世に生まれて 寂しかろ
梢に枝に 稚児は実る
渡る夜風に 揺られて睡る
母喰鳥が ひとつ唱えば夜更け
朝風吹くまで ねんねしな
此の枝を閨に 青葉を包みに
母の腕を 知らぬ儘
薄紅色の 頬に一滴
夜露は 魄を悼む涙
時告鳥が ひとつ唱えば夜明け
朝影射すまで ねんねしな
まだ戸は開かぬ
English Translation
A crimson petal fell fluttering in the wind
Are they congratulatory flowers, or funerary paper flowers?
A burial shroud as your swaddling clothes
The fire at the head of the funeral procession has faded long ago
It must be lonely to be born into the land of eternal youth
The treetops and branches fruit with babies
They sleep while rocked by the passing night breeze
It is late at night when the owl sings
Your bedtime is until the morning breeze blows
These branches are your bedroom, the green leaves your blanket
You know not the arms of your mother
A single drop on a light pink cheek
A tear of night dew that mourns your soul
It will be daybreak when the rooster sings
Your bedtime is until the morning light shines
The door will not open yet