Beach of a Moonlit Night

On a moonlit night, a single button
lay fallen on the surf-tossed shore.

I picked it up,

not because I thought that I could use it,

but

I could not bring myself to toss it away;

I tucked it inside my sleeve.

On a moonlit night, a single button 

lay fallen on the surf-tossed shore.

I picked it up,

not because I thought that I could use it,

but

I neither cast it to the moon

nor did I cast it to the waves;

I tucked it inside my sleeve.

On a moonlit night, this button that I found

entered my hand, and entered deep into 

my heart.

This button I found on a moonlit night

how could I ever let it go?

                  
                          – Nakahara Chuya