15.01.2022
Out of the window
Versions: #1Out of window there is
a bloom of apricot 1
and warmth of
the single bloom
Out of window there are
lush green leaves to my eyes,
voice of lesser cuckoo 2
and ah, first bonito of the season 3
Out of window there is
crisp autumn breeze
circling around mountains
and hear a voice of a temple bell 4
How long is
remaining life?
This night is fleeting
life is short
Out of window there is
snow chilling my house
I just lie in bed, imagining it
just imagining 5
Out of window there is
a joyous flower of roof iris 6
that blooms white
in this spring evening
- 1. Usually blooms in the end of winter and annonces the arrival of spring
- 2. Cuculus poliocephalus, its voice announces the arrival of summer
- 3. In Japanese culture, not only bonito, the first harvest of fish or vegetable is believed to bring good luck and health. First bonito appears in early summer.
- 4. gigantic bells usually placed at Buddhism temples
- 5. Shiki Masaoka, original auther, made this line while he's ill in bed. With unusual snowfall in Tokyo, he could not go out to see snow and just imagine or think of snow with what is seen from window.
- 6. Iris tectorum. Japanese traditional name ichihatsu reads 'ichi'=one,first and 'hatsu'=for the first time. Because it blooms earliest among other species of iris.