sole soul
dotintime
The sunset is the end of the day,
the bell from the mountain temple rings
hand by hand let’s go back home
together with the crows.
It’s a childrens song, Yuyake Koyake, originally meant to be sung at the end of the Japanese school day. This charming, evocative melody was composed by Shin Kusakawa in the early 20th century; Uko Nakamura wrote the lyrics. The song has been recorded by musicians ranging from Chet Atkins to Jean-Pierre Rampal. In many parts of Japan a recording of the song is apparently still played, broadcast on loudspeakers throughout neighborhoods, at five o’clock in the afternoon, signaling the children it’s time to stop their games, say goodbye to their friends, and return home.
I’ve never been to Japan. I’ve no direct knowledge the song is played at five o’clock, but I hope it’s true. I want to believe it’s true. I want to live in a world where children are called home by a song. I want to live in a world where everybody is called home by a song. I want to be called back home, together with the crow, by a song.
After the children are back at home
a big and round moon shines,
when the birds dream,
the brightness from the stars fills the sky.
Blog photograph copyrighted to the photographer and used with permission by utata.org. All photographs used on utata.org are stored on flickr.com and are obtained via the flickr API. Text is copyrighted to the author, greg fallis and is used with permission by utata.org. Please see Show and Share Your Work
