Good morning!
We have now winter drizzling. With such chilly rain Ryokan made a poem:
Pitiable is the lone pine tree,
Standing in the paddies of Iwamuro,
Standing drenched in the chilly rain.
If human, I’d drape you in a mantle,
I’d cover you with a straw-hat!
Pitiable is the lone pine tree.
A news piece from Japan reported that the lone pine tree called the Pine of Miracle – the symbol of hope after having survived the tsunami that swept 70,000 other pine trees from Takada Pine Field – has died.
It died, even after a 350 year life benefiting and benevolent for all. Everything is impermanent. Everyone is destined to decay and die. So, we must remember death, living truth like trees; as ancient people said, “Memento mori!”
11/12/13
