{"id":4462,"date":"2006-03-30T13:28:28","date_gmt":"2006-03-30T17:28:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/formerlyknownas\/2006\/03\/30\/dc-dreams-cherry-blossoms-at-"},"modified":"2011-08-05T14:54:02","modified_gmt":"2011-08-05T18:54:02","slug":"dc-dreams-cherry-blossoms-at-their-peak","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/2006\/03\/30\/dc-dreams-cherry-blossoms-at-their-peak\/","title":{"rendered":"d.c. dreams – cherry blossoms at their peak"},"content":{"rendered":"

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For most of my adult life (including college days and a dozen years <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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practicing law), Washington, D.C., was my home.   I often miss my <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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many good friends in the DC Area.   In Springtime, however, two <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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events — the blooming of the cherry blossoms and of the azaleas — <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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make me yearn to be physically back there, amidst priceless and <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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wordless beauty (update<\/EM> 9 PM: like Mira and<\/A> Elana).<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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\"CherryBlossomsDC\"<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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national park service<\/EM><\/A><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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so far away – <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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cherry blossoms and the smile <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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that humbles them<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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         <\/FONT><\/FONT>dagosan<\/STRONG><\/EM><\/FONT><\/A><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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Washingtonians are celebrating their <\/FONT>National Cherry Blossom Fesitval<\/EM><\/FONT><\/A> <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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from March 25 through April 9.  According to the <\/FONT>National Park <\/FONT><\/A>Service<\/FONT><\/A>, <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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today (March 30th) is the expected <\/FONT>Peak Bloom<\/FONT><\/A> day — “the day in which <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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70 percent of the blossoms of the Yoshino Cherry (Prunus x yedoensis) <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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trees are open.” You can read the history of Washington’s cherry trees, <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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originally a gift in 1912 from the people of Japan, here<\/A>.<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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\"tiny The Washington Post<\/EM> has a video<\/FONT><\/A>, “A Day <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Among the Cherry Blossoms”, March 26, 2006, for <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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those who would like to dally.  Read about the <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Festical here<\/A>. <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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among cherry blossoms
a long stay
in this world<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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    <\/FONT><\/FONT>Issa<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/A>, <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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      translated by <\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/FONT>David G. Lanoue<\/FONT><\/A><\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV>
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\"TidalBasinLantern\"  <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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   anne marie williams <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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   2006 NCBF Art Winner<\/A><\/FONT><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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The blooming period of cherry blossoms can last as long as <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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14 days.   <\/FONT>The contrast of the beauty and the impermanence of <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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the blossoms <\/FONT>have long made them the perfect subject for haiku <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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(and for zen philosophers). <\/FONT><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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Last month, <\/FONT>we featured<\/FONT><\/A> poems from the Vancouver Cherry Blossom <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Festival’s <\/FONT>Haiku Invitational<\/FONT><\/A> Contest.    Here are a pair of Vancouver<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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winners from two of f\/k\/a<\/EM>‘s Honored Guests:<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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 “VCBFLogo”<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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distant thunder
a few cherry blossoms
float to earth<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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 <\/FONT>
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just blossoming
we meet under
the cherry tree<\/FONT>
  <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/A> <\/DIV><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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     <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT>w.f. owen<\/FONT><\/A><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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                                                 \"blossomBrach\"<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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cherry blossoms
the tug tug tug
of baby’s hand
<\/DIV><\/FONT><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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morning mist
a bent back sweeps
yesterday’s blossoms<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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roberta beary<\/FONT><\/A><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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Cherry blossoms are so cherished in Japan, that any poem<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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mentioning “blossoms” with no further designation, is regarded <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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as being about <\/FONT>cherry blossoms.  Our beloved kobayashi issa<\/FONT><\/A> <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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wrote thousands of haiku about cherry blossoms.  Go here<\/A> for <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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several dozen. <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV>
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“BlossomBrachF”<\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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Cherry blossoms can evoke quite a few different emotions and <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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insights.  Issa, along with his translator David G. Lanoue, shares <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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a few of his with us:<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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mountain cherry blossoms–
the pine trees
stand guard<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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 <\/DIV>
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mountain cherry blossoms–
hair decoration
for a bald man<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT>
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“blossomsDC”<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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sunset–
a ruckus in the cherry blossoms
a ruckus in the trout stream<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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pulling up
his fishhook he looks…
at cherry blossoms!<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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hey cherry blossoms–
why the rush
to scatter so soon?<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV>
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evening cherry blossoms–
the devil is moved
to tears<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV>
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“BlossomBrach”<\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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growing old–
even the cherry blossoms
a bit annoying<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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even while walking
through cherry blossoms…
nagging!<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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 <\/P>
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<\/DIV><\/FONT><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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the roof sweeper
stands still…
evening cherry blossoms<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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the buck looks
at cherry blossoms…
shedding his horns<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV>
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Edo’s cherry blossoms, too
shine only
for money<\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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world of pain–
and the cherry blossoms
add to it!<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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the great lord
forced off his horse…
cherry blossoms<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Issa<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/A>, <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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translated by <\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/FONT>David G. Lanoue<\/FONT><\/A><\/DIV>
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 <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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\"tiny No matter what kind of blossoms you have where you live, <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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take a little time to experience them — or the Blossom Police <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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might be knocking at your door.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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                                                                                                                     \"BlossomsDC\"<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For most of my adult life (including college days and a dozen years practicing law), Washington, D.C., was my home.   I often miss my many good friends in the DC Area.   In Springtime, however, two events — the blooming of the cherry blossoms and of the azaleas — make me yearn to be physically back there, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":94,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2926],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4462","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pre-06-2006"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6kP1R-19Y","jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4462","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/94"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4462"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4462\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12709,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4462\/revisions\/12709"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4462"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4462"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4462"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}