Page:Insect Literature by Lafcadio Hearn.djvu/346

Rh Suzushii to

Omoeba suzushi

Semi no koe.—Ginkō.

{{both margins|2em|2em|{{smaller block|If we think it is cool, the voice of the semi is cool {that is, the fancy changes the feeling).}}}}{{center block/e}}

In view of the many complaints of Japanese poets about the noisiness of semi, the reader may be surprised to learn that out of semi-skins there used to be made in both China and Japan—perhaps upon homoeopathic principles—a medicine for the cure of ear-ache!

One poem, nevertheless, proves that semi-music has its admirers:— O moshiroi zo ya,

Waga-ko no koe wa

Takai mori-ki no

Semi no koe!

But such admiration is rare. More frequently the semi is represented as crying for its nightly repast of dew:— 註