Cherry blossoms are blooming.
The trees in parks and along the streets are turning pink.
But a big crowd of people throng to a particular old cherry tree
In the garden of the Yasukuni Shrine.
–
Encircled by a fence and surrounded by white pebbles,
This gnarled tree is the bellwether
Of the blossoms’ blooming over the entire city.
The people patiently wait and watch.
–
A couple of officials from the Met. Agency come to inspect
The tree every morning when the day nears to the tree’s possible blooming.
They examine the buds on a particular twig out of hundreds on the tree.
When they could confirm several of the buds in bloom,
One official solemnly announces, “I hereby declare the cherry blossoms are open.”
–
The people applaud and raise their cell phones to take photos.
Some of the hundreds of other cherry trees in the garden have already turned pink.
So have others in other gardens and parks and those lining the streets.
The flowers already bloomed sway in the spring wind as if to laugh at the childish ceremony.
–
The Yasukuni Shrine was founded more than 130 years ago
To enshrine the souls of men and women who dedicated their lives
To defend the country against conflicts and wars.
They number millions
–
During WW2, young people were sent to battles to kill or to be killed
“To die for the country is a great honor,” they were told.
“Souls to be enshrined at the Yasukuni Shrine is the highest
“Of the highest honor,” they were trained to believe.
–
What kind of people in their right mind
Could demand other people to die so that they may live
Without their conscience unbearably bothered?
–
Those sent to wars to die were youths of pure heart.
It was so easy to make them believe the illusion of the “highest honor”
As the truth that they were chosen to be bestowed.
–
Who were behind this tragic drama of lies?
People with the evil spirit. How else can they be identified?
For what did they arrange the evil drama?
For their meaningless but bottomless greed for wealth and power.
What else could it be?
–
Those youths sent to the war were of purest heart and obedience.
The official recognition of a few buds on the particular cherry tree has to be
To say to the souls of the youths enshrined at the shrine, “Look! It’s spring again.
“Rest in peace for we promise never to repeat the senseless tragedy.”
–
The people who applauded the official blooming of the blossoms
Are just as pure hearted as those who died in the war.
They work hard like ants carrying provisions in a long queue for winter days.
–
A war is like a bucket of boiling water poured on those ants.
I know because I had seen at least a small part of it.
(March 22, 2016 AshiAkira)
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This is such a great piece. It was so deep and profound. I really think this is so moving. Just wow.
Thank you very much for such a great comment. Really appreciated.
A touching poem, Ashi 🙂
And a great homage to those who lost their lives because of the people with the evil spirit.
May the senseless tragedy never be repeated!
Thank you, Monica. 🙂 Greatly appreciate your reading the poem.
You’re very welcome, Ashi ❤
❤
Beautiful writing, and such a painful truth–it is heart-breaking that our youth, in whatever country, are so often sold lofty lies which cost far too much. The grief hangs heavier over hearts than the fullest of cherry trees, I dare say.
Very right. Thank you.
Most welcome.
Beautiful truth, my friend. So powerful, I want to share it with my readers, and will be linking to it in my next post, so all who come to see my work will be referred here. There are about seven billion people who need to see it…. A more simple, moving plea for sanity I cannot imagine. Well done, and may your wish come to pass, for all our sakes….
gigoid
Thank you. Thank you so much indeed!
ありがとうございました。色々と考えさせられます。ありがとうございます。
こちらこそ、読んで頂きありがとうございます。光栄です。
I’m sorry, WordPress doesn’t allow me to post in Japanese (my previous comment is in your Spam folder, I think). Thank you for sharing. It truly makes me think…
Thank you for the comment. Yes, I found your previous comment in Japanese in my spam folder. Comments in Japanese from my other blog friends have also been found thrown into the spam file in the past.
Pingback: Adrift on The Sea of Ambiguity…. | gigoid
Thank you. Much appreciated.
Thank you Ashi !
You are welcome.
So japan usually has cherry blossoms?? Are they significant? Is it why people wait for the chry blossoms in shrine in particular to bloom??
Spring come with the blooming of cherry blossoms. People wait ceremoniously for the blooming to be declared. The picked as the bellwether tree to declare the blooming of the blossoms in our area happens to be the one in the shrine. No other meaning. By the way it’s autumn here now. 🙂
Um i cant tell which season is here now..um dats a wonderful tradition. So its jus not one place but declaration is done individually on al places? Um…
Did u write about typhoon??
What do you mean you can’t tell which season there? Are you confined and denied outside contact? 🙂 🙂 Yes, the declaaration is done for each individual places starting with the southernmost area and comes up gradually to the north as the spring nears them. And yes I wrote about the typhoon and posted it.
i can’t believe i missed this comment Mr Ashiaki. I am really sorry for late reply 🙂
And here i was thinking i dont hear often from Mr Ashiaki nowdays 🙂
You don’t hear from me often nowadays because I don’t do from you. I write you comments for no response. Whatever the reason for the disconnection, I thought it would be impolite to bother you by writing you anything. 🙂
Thats not the way it Mr Ashiaki. I am sorry if i hav been writing often but i do check your blogs regularly. I wil never consider you impolite to write to me 🙂
Conversation would be nice. Conversation but not monologue… 🙂
🙂 i happen to be preety bad person on conversation..i am a very good listener though 🙂
Understood. 🙂
🙂
The typhoon story is at: https://ashiakira.wordpress.com/story-poems-2/typhoon-on-mind/
Great poem!
Thank you.