Going Away, Leaving Everything and Coming Back....

Strong in the Rain

Strong in the rain Strong in the wind Strong against the summer heat and snow He is healthy and robust Free from desire He never loses his temper Nor the quiet smile on his lips He eats four go of unpolished rice Miso and a few vegetables a day He does not consider himself In whatever occurs . . . his understanding Comes from observation and experience And he never loses sight of things He lives in a little thatched-roof hut In a field in the shadows of a pine tree grove If there is a sick child in the east He goes there to nurse the child If there's a tired mother in the west He goes to her and carries her sheaves If someone is near death in the south He goes and says, "Don't be afraid" If there are strife and lawsuits in the north He demands that the people put an end to their pettiness He weeps at the time of drought He plods about at a loss during the cold summer Everyone calls him Blockhead No one sings his praises Or takes him to heart . . . That is the kind of person I want to be © "Strong in the Rain" by Kenji Miyazawa; translation © Roger Pulvers

Taken from today's issue of the Japan Times Online.  Hopefully, I can go back from this trip with a clearer picture of who I want to become...