336 Long Journey

“Long Journey”

Early in the spring, the swallows return.
Most years, they raise their fledglings in the same nest.
Swallows are very diligent.
Their hard work is impressive, even if it comes naturally to them.

Swallows native to Japan migrate through Taiwan,
And spend the winter in the Philippines and Malaysia.
This flight amounts to several thousand kilometers.

Swallows are the most popular migratory bird in Japan.
They build nests close to the places we live,
And protect their families from invaders.
People love and treasure swallows as lucky.

An animal’s instinct and soul are one and the same:
Pure, innocent, and sincere.
They carry out their given mission without hesitation.

We humans also have a mission,
But often we get lost in our earthly desire.
Through transmigration, we live again and again.
The journeys of our souls are everlasting.
As we migrate between life and death, like a bird,
The time has come for us, too, to realize our mission.