The Yoshino You Know

I made an unscheduled trip to Yoshino this morning. One of the most famous cherry blossom spots in Japan, it's only 45 minutes south of me by train but I procrastinated going the past couple springs. This morning I put on a pink shirt and thought, what the hell, I'll go right now.

It was kind of silly to go on a Sunday. I've been off for about a month so I could have gone on a week day. Instead, I chose to go when all the trains were packed with people.

Yet there were lots of quiet, peaceful spots, despite the crowds.

Someone broke a cup:

I bought no souvenirs, just some sakura mochi and a bottle of sake. The former are good and tart, the latter I'll drink to-night while enjoying the natural splendour of Skyrim.

X Sonnet #1832

To crash molasses, grapes were smashed with plums.
Detective roofs descend on guilty floors.
The graves of teeth were black in pregnant gums.
Another mouth awaits through talking doors.
Unending springs for steam could not be crossed.
The mammoth corpse provoked a pack of wolves.
A jacket's colour cooked the penguin lost.
A lover's judgement ran on wooden hooves.
Angelic dogs discoursed on tasty gin.
Disturbing strings would cut guitars to bone.
A final whistle changed to tranquil tin.
Contentment buzzed for ears across the phone.
A cherry glamour broke between the chips.
No movie's just a set of little clips.

Blossoming '23

The early spring continues. Some of the cherry trees have already started turning green and it's not even April yet. I'm glad it wasn't this warm when I first came to Japan in March 2020. I'd have had to wear my big overcoat in this heat since I didn't have an apartment to stash it in yet.

Here are some pictures from the river near my local grocery store.

Lots of people were about. I saw troops of elementary school students all in their matching yellow caps. They always remind me of ducklings.

The water will make you cry, kids, thereby begetting more water. It's a vicious cycle.

I'm still not sure what this sign is warning kids of. Blue river dolphins? With hands? The snake in the picture looks like an innocent bystander. The Japanese is just, "あぶない！", "Danger!"

Twitter Sonnet #1682

A spiral plan confused the worker day.
Beneath the street, the shoppers loudly moan.
It seems the store had sold a lump of clay.
Excessive cream can smash the waffle cone.
Reclusive metal snakes could solve the debt.
To climb spaghetti, cheese required legs.
A special mound of dough could fly a jet.
But growing eyes could harbour secret eggs.
Proportioned hats involved the heads of state.
So clamour back, the bleachers chill the soul.
For Fighting Man adorned with helm his pate.
Yet some there are would say it's but a bowl.
The early pink was deemed an honest heart.
About the lovers, blushing heavens part.

Where Pink Petals Go

Where art thy vim and vigor, Mrs. Bear? She's not, as they say in Japan, genki. I saw her in Uda last week.

It's been very warm for March, leading to some early blossoming.

I'm wondering if I should make a trip down to Yoshino, where there's a magnificent valley of cherry trees. Last time I went in March, it was too early and I saw just cobwebs of skinny grey branches. But this year maybe it's different. The train was full of elderly people in hiking attire coming from the south, the direction of Yoshino, yesterday. I guess there's no harm in waiting a little longer.

“Caroline Laughs and It's Raining All Day . . .”

It's cherry blossom season here in Japan so I went around town to-day with some friends to journey through the ephemeral clouds of pink.

One of my friends took a picture of me taking pictures. This was by a river in Gose.

I took some macro shots:

It was rainy and a bit chilly.

This was by a river in Asuka:

We also visited Abe-Monjuin Temple in Sakurai.

This stone tomb on the grounds dates from the 7th century:

These flowers are for the Year of the Tiger. Can you tell?

Twitter Sonnet #1568

Revolving plates were laden last with leeks.
The ham was burned to pull the juices out.
The heavy wolf had taxed the penguin beaks.
Insightful steam emerged from Jeffries' spout.
The message turned the pigeon back to ponds.
Reverting trees to paper caused a deal.
To cast a book, we turn a page to wands.
The picture text could make the sentence real.
The yarn's a waving line between the beats.
To summon beasts, extend the film a day.
The grill accepts a vast array of meats.
There's something else the fat would like to say.
The atmosphere was pink and flowed to earth.
A petal cloud engulfed the stony berth.