The true charm of the little crow can only be understood by coming here. My body, submerged in the sea of desire, is abominable; from that coffin, there is someone who will raise me. I walk on, touching the spiritual energy; only then do I finally understand. My body, lost in the forest of sin, is defiled; from those thorns, there is someone who will free me. The salvation of the little crow is not expressed in words, but is bestowed upon me by the sanctuary. I rest on the mountain of Ashihiki, yearning for you; my heart is pure, for you are here. I climb the endlessly continuing stairs, relentlessly. I am alone in emptiness; truly sorrowful; yet I pray for your protection. I arrive at the temple grounds. I went to worship and stood alone in the inner grove The days I played in the awe-inspiring shrine of the gods, I now yearn for this fleeting life At that time, the gods healed you from your illness On the day I ascend to the heavenly shrine, my soul will be healed in the cradle of the gods Who showed me this dream? I climb the mountain of the gods with vigor, just like when I was a child In the depths of the shrine, a black swallowtail butterfly flutters about As if drawn by it, I proceed further in Following the path, I come to a well, passed down from my ancestors Above it are the remains of an ancient festival site There I rest for a while; in reality, that's the mountaintop. But strangely, there's still a path to climb from there. Is this dream a memory from a past life? As I climb, magnificent mountains like the Alps appear before my eyes. Under a clear blue sky, a lush, green forest stretches out before me. A refreshing breeze blows, and I climb steadily on my own. Eventually, dusk falls, and I reach the entrance to the summit. I enter the entrance to heaven, surrounded by trees. A large staircase rises towards the heavens. And towering cedar trees stand around it, as if protecting it. Me I slowly climbed up there, my steps firm. This dream was shown to me by you. When I reached the top, a simple thatched-roof gate stood there. A pure mist rose from that gate to heaven. Looking beyond the gate, I saw something sparkling brightly. I stepped in there. I always wake up there. What does it mean? From somewhere, I heard a familiar, nostalgic singing voice. A warm light shone from beyond the heavens. The land our ancestors showed us, the palace I reach in remembrance—a dream within a dream.
