Zen Love Song

Nennen korori yo okorori yo (Hush-a-bye, hush-a-bye)

Bōya wa yoi ko da nenne shi na. (My good baby, sleep)

Crimson cheeks, light-coloured hair, full of

compassion and love

Lost in a dream of love play

I contemplate her beauty

Her thousand eyes of great mercy look upon

all but see no one beyond redemption

This goddess can even be a fisherman’s wife by

a river or sea, singing of salvation

When we parted, it broke my heart

Her powdered cheeks were more beautiful

than spring flowers.

My lovely miss is now with another

Singing the same love song but to a different tune.