Beauty of Spring

This morning I had my appointment with the Lawyer about my house settlement and she was helpful. There is still a long way to go yet.

I was going to take some photos while I was out but it was just too cold and windy down at the estuary. It sure wasn't so cold and windy in the city. This shot is of the Cherry Blossom over our fence. It was looking such a picture when I got home, so had to get a few shots.


If there were no such thing
as cherry blossoms
in this world,
in springtime how untroubled
our hearts would be!

By  Ariwara no Narihira

Ariwara no Narihira ( 825 - 880) was a Japanese waka poet and aristocrat. He was one of six waka poets referred in the preface in kana to Kokin Wakashū by Ki no Tsurayuki, and has been named as the hero of The Tales of Ise, whose hero was an anonym in itself but most of whose love affairs could be attributed to Narihira.

He was the fifth son of Prince Abo, a son of Emperor Heizei. His mother Princess Ito was a daughter of Emperor Kammu, so he was therefore linked to Emperor Kammu by both maternal and paternal lineage. Along with his other brothers, he was relegated to civilian life, receiving a new clan name, Ariwara.

Although he belonged to the noblest lineage, his political life was not prominent, especially under the reign of Emperor Montoku. During the thirteen years of the Emperor's reign, Narihira was not raised to a higher rank within the court. This setback was supposedly caused by a scandal involving him and Fujiwara no Takaiko , an imperial consort or another loyal lady. Both love affairs were referred to in The Tales of Ise.
Taken from and for information on Ariwara no Narihira.