Smi 89 



Matsu no ki ni 

 Shimikomu gotoshi 

 Se'mi no kog. 



Into the wood of the pine-tree 



Seems to soak 



The voice of the se'mi. 



A very large number of Japanese poems about 

 se'mi describe the noise of the creatures as an 

 affliction. To fully sympathize with the com- 

 plaints of the poets, one must have heard certain 

 varieties of Japanese cicadas in full midsummer 

 chorus ; but even by readers without experience 

 of the clamor, the following verses will probably 

 be found suggestive : 



Ware" hitori 

 Atsui yd nari, 

 Se'mi no kog I 



BUNSO. 



Meseems that only I, I alone among mortals, 

 Ever suffered such heat I oh, the noise of the se'mi 1 



Ushiro kara 

 Tsukamu y5 nari, 

 Se'mi no kog. 



JOFD. 



Oh, the noise of the se'mi ! a pain of invisible seizure, 

 Clutched in an enemy's grasp, caught by the hair from 

 behind ! 



