Not Losing to the Rain (Amenimo makezu)
POETRY FORMAT, 4 Aug 2014
Kenji Miyazawa – TRANSCEND Media Service
This inspiring poem was written by Japanese school teacher, geologist, poet and writer Kenji Miyazawa (1896-1933); it was found posthumously in a notebook in one of the poet’s trunks.
not losing to the rain
not losing to the wind
not losing to the snow nor to summer’s heat
with a strong body
unfettered by desire
never losing temper
always quietly smiling
every day four bowls of brown rice
miso and some vegetables to eat
in everything
count yourself last and put others before you
watching and listening, and understanding
and never forgetting
in the shade of the woods of the pines of the fields
being in a little thatched hut
if there is a sick child to the east
going and nursing over them
if there is a tired mother to the west
going and shouldering her sheaf of rice
if there is someone near death to the south
going and saying there’s no need to be afraid
if there is a quarrel or a lawsuit to the north
telling them to leave off with such waste
when there’s drought, shedding tears of sympathy
when the summer’s cold, wandering upset
called a nobody by everyone
without being praised
without being blamed
such a person
I want to become
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Submitted by TRANSCEND member Satoshi Ashikaga.
This article originally appeared on Transcend Media Service (TMS) on 4 Aug 2014.
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