だまつてあそぶ鳥の一羽が花のなかone bird playing in silence among the blossoms

花のなかで鳥が一羽、鳴きもせずに遊んでいる。誰に見せるでもなく、誰かと競うでもなく。「だまつてあそぶ」という言葉に、山頭火が鳥に見ていた静けさへの憧れがにじむ。眺めているこちらまで、しばらく口をつぐみたくなる。Among the blossoms a single bird plays, not even singing. Not to be seen by anyone, not competing with anyone. In the words "playing in silence" seeps Santōka's longing for the stillness he saw in the bird. Even the onlooker feels moved, for a while, to hold his tongue.