Some Can Sing

This spring has been absolutely glorious! Most springs are, but this one has been above average. And tramping through the woods and hopping over creeks with my friend Carrie I've been on site and in a mood to notice the glories. But few of us notice the wonders of nature with the clarity of the old Japanese poets. They noticed more because they took the time to sit and watch, to lie down and listen. We have a very hard time waiting for life and the world and glory to make themselves known to us. But when we do take time to notice, oh what an amazing creation meets us at every step!







Even with insects--
some can sing,
some can't.
--Issa--



old pond.....
a frog leaps in
water's sound      
--Basho--



White dew --
One drop
On each thorn
--Buson--

This World Of Dew

Life is temporary and fragile, like a dewdrop. This whole world is temporary and fragile. Getting attached to life and this world is silly, or so Issa would like to believe. So his Buddhism taught him. His philosophy created the ideals of non-resistance and unsurprised acceptance of suffering in this transient world. After all, nothing could last.

Still, his heart would cry out against the tyranny of such a philosophy. His heart didn't mirror the ideals.

Issa

A haiku by Issa, a Japanese poet who lived from 1763-1827, making him the contemporary of William Blake in England.



In this world
we walk on the roof of hell,
gazing at flowers.


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