Peonies, peonies thronged the May
When in royal-rich array
Came Sawara to the school
Under the silvery willow-tree
To the school of Tenko !
Silver bells on a milk-white mule,
Rose-red sails on an emerald sea!
Over the bloom of the cherry spray,
Peonies, peonies dimmed the day;
And he rode the royal way
Back to Yoichi Tenko.

Yoichi Tenko, half afraid, 
Whispered, " Wed some other maid;
Kimi left me all alone
Under the silvery willow-tree,
Left me," whispered Tenko, 
Kimi had a heart of stone! "
"Kimi, Kimi? Who is she ?
Kimi? Ah, the child that played
Round the willow-tree. She prayed
Often; and, whate'er I said,
She believed it, Tenko."

He had come to paint anew
Those dim isles of rose and blue,
For a palace far away,
Under the silvery willow-tree
So he said to Tenko;
And he painted, day by day,
Golden visions of the sea.
No, he had not come to woo;
Yet, had Kimi proven true,
Doubtless he had loved her too,
Hardly less than Tenko.

Since the thought was in his head,
He would make his choice and wed :
And a lovely maid he chose
Under the silvery willow-tree.
"Fairer far," said Tenko.
Kimi had a twisted nose,
And a foot too small, for me,
And her face was dull as lead !"
"Nay, a flower, be it white or red,
Is a flower," Sawara said!
"So it is," said Tenko.