For Japan

You know I can't say much that hasn't been said. Devastation, death, loss, all words placed in the headlines and shown at a rapid pace. Then we forget a bit. We forgot about our Gulf, we forget about those overseas fighting, we forget famine, we forget suffering. We choose not to look at the harsh light of life; it's a struggle, biologically, socially, emotionally. Somedays less than others, but a struggle none the less. And for what? Well, I'm not sure to be honest, that's too "What's the meaning of life?" for me and I, for one, choose not to conjecture rather than to say "Lunch in 30? Dinner at 6? Tea at 8?"

Japan is famous for its cherry blossoms. They burst forth towards spring, and then they shatter in a matter of weeks. Explosive beauty, and a violent fall. But regardless of tsunami's, earthquakes, loss, death, devastation, they still bloom. For who? For everyone and no one all at the same time.

branches explode with flowers

Homes cars lives memories washed out to sea

petals scatter in the breeze

from space comes violent beautiful life silently

space is shattered whole with blossoms

Just in case you were wondering...

Where does my "faith" lie? My teacher says it better than I can long before I knew:

"I put my faith in love. In love, I am nothing and nobody. Just like every single one of us. A pure and round moon shines."

I am in love with life, and on any given day, with everyone in it. Still, it is lonely sometimes:

flecks of light move dance

before my eyes in the night

a chill fall air blows

a single bench waits

between two trees for someone

I too am alone

moonlight lines shimmer

I read my teacher's poetry

great beautiful fool

As always, Be Well.

It was a good walk.

Life is rough sometimes. Good or bad, just keep on waking up and living. Life gives us each moment to be here, to greet it. It's up to us to open our arms and accept the river as it hits us. Fighting upstream is good now and then, shaking things up, demanding others to take a second look. But if all we do it push against the current, we'll drown before we have a chance to make any change.

A bare stand of trees

Marked, lonely, littered, barren

Even in Hell, Joy.

Also, starting my bread making journey this week. We shall see how this transpires.

Be Well.

Some time off

Life is busy, college is busier. That's why I haven't been here. Plus, to post when I have nothing to say is even more pretentious than to post in the first place. But I wanted to share a poem by Kobayashi Issa:

"Used to losing

I'm peaceful, calm...

Chrysanthemum"

Things, people, ideologies, opportunities, loves, losses, illness

Come, go

Where are you afterwards?

Right where you are

It's the only place you can be.

For Ryokan

Don't worry about your antics, friend

Only the best of us

Manage to lose ourselves in the world.

From Ryokan

When all thoughts

Are exhausted

I slip into the woods

And gather

A pile of shepherd's purse

Like the little stream

Making its way

I, too, quietly

Become clear and transparent