Although the wind
Blows terribly here
the moonlight also leaks
between the roof planks
of this ruined house
~ Izumi Shikibu, 10th Century Japanese poet
Remember that if you wall up your house too well you will stay dry, but you will stay moonless. We should strive to let the world into our lives, let love into our lives, let other people into our lives and let the night of risk and vulnerability into our lives. Our knowing and our fear keep out the moonlight. By letting the moonlight into our ruined house, we let in tenderness, courage and healing. ~ Joan Halifax. ‘Standing at the Edge: Finding Freedom Where Fear and Courage Meet.
Content Catnip 
Like properly prepared cup of green tea, nice.
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Yeah consider it to be a nice little palate cleanser – the poetry after the crappy year of 2020 hehe
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I love these poems. I’ve started working my way through the book of japanese death poems and in part one they trace the history of the poetic forms in japan. Fascinating!
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That book sounds amazing, would love to get it…what’s it called again, sorry I think you told me ages ago but I can’t remember. If you want, maybe you could share some on here, it would be amazing to read them!
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Yes indeed. Will do! I haven’t got to any poems yet…just reading the history and background. Here’s the book I got: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60376.Japanese_Death_Poems
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Beautiful poem and quote. Thank you for sharing!
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Very welcome Erin glad you loved it 💕
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This was a beautiful poem!
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Thank you so much 💓 💗
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That is a great though and reflection. It might seem such a small thing, keeping to ourselves and going on about our lives. In reality, engaging with others is what touches our lives and makes it all the more interesting, maybe even meaningful. There’s usually something thoughtful, and something so simple, in such Japanese poems and writings. Sometimes simplicity is the key.
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Beautiful reflections on this Mabel thank you so much for that 💕 that is very true and profound about simplicity, it’s key to not just Zen but to all of our lives, for me it’s wise….I hope to renounce consumerism as much as I can but I’ve still got to do some work to let go of things. I hope you are going well Mabel and enjoying the beginnings of Spring in Melbourne 🌞
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It’s so easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle. So easy for simplicity to fall by the wayside. We are all on our own journey towards living a life that is more fulfilling to each of us, be it simple or simpler. Definitely looking forward to Spring here. And even more so to Summer🌞
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Love “leaky moonlight”…!!
Linda xx
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Thank you so much Linda 💓 glad this resonated with you I love your blog and have subscribed.
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Oh yay! … Although I hope that means you’re more into mindfulness rather than pain … but if you are in pain, I’m sorry… but I’m always up for a chat if you need one! Linda xox
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You are so kind thank you. My pain is more mental or emotional from having an awful childhood but working through that. I do a lot of things to help myself and I feel overall happy, but sometimes things get to me. Thanks for offer of a chat, likewise 👍
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I’ve discovered that there’s a fine line between physical, mental, emotional and spiritual pain – they’re like a knot where one aspect is closely tied to the other… but that’s just me. Here’s hoping the rest of the week and the weekend is filled with smiles for you! xox
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You are so right…these parts of ourselves are interconnected. I am having a nice week so far and I really hope you do too, hugs 🫂 🤗
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Thank you – and here’s hoping the nice-ness continues through the weekend – we deserve it! xox
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The “Floating Lady”. She was very much a product of her time and environment, though surprisingly independent minded. Her poems reveal an incredibly thoughtful, perceptive, and passionate individual. Her observations of the human condition are still relevant. An excellent set of translations can be found in, The Ink Dark Moon: Love Poems by Onono Komachi and Izumi Shikibu, Women of the Ancient Court of Japan, translated by Jane Hirshfield and Mariko Aratani (1990).
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