Cherry Blossoms

While stuck at home in lockdown, my family and I have been trying to take daily walks around neighborhood, and yesterday I caught sight of these cherry blossoms! 🌸

Around this time of year, I always go back and read poems from a famous 12th century poetry anthology from Japan called the Hyakunin Isshu (百人一首, “100 poems by 100 poets”). I even made a blog devoted to it some years back. For Spring, Poem 33 is usually my favorite, but today I would like to share poem 61:

いにしへの奈良の都の八重桜今日九重に匂ひぬるかな
Inishie no Nara no miyako no Yae-zakura kyo kokonoe ni nioi nuru kana

The eight-petalled cherries from the Nara capital of the ancient past today nine layers thick have bloomed within your court!

Translation by Professor Mostow in Pictures of the Heart: The Hyakunin Isshu in Word and Image

Usually, we go visit the cherry blossoms at the University of Washington at this time of year, but I have been to Japan once (in the old capitol of Nara, no less!) to see the cherry blossoms there in 2010.¹ This is a photo of the famous Todaiji temple:

Even if you are stuck at home, may you get to enjoy the Spring with some blossoms, fresh air and some good poetry!

¹ Including a visit to the see the well-known February Hall. Todaiji is always a great visit.