Rendezvous with Nature -- 8

Oirase, Aomori, Japan (August 1994)

Weeds (excerpt)

They live

rank on rank of them in their green nakedness

they live vigorously

never flinching from the autumn frost, unbending in will,through the supple resilience that is their heaven-given naturethey live on in joy

They live

greedily they live

never the least air of gloom about them to the life-giving springs of the great earth their mother calling out in answer multiplying their friends they live on

In the light of the heaven they live discordantly

giving thanks to the dews and springs of the earththey live serenely

Sternly they battle with their surroundings

lively they take delight in their surroundings

day by day they carve out a life of fullness with the drought, the gale, the drenching rain,the morning dew, the sunset, the stars that fill the sky they live on, dancing and singing

Daisaku Ikeda