i was at a park near the temple
sitting next to this small tree with beautiful thick oval, white-ish, pink petals.
it was a few weeks ago in spring, the time to fall off.
as i was looking at the entire tree one fell off, not the slow romantic fall but a fast drop, showing its weight.
it landed with a round-sounding thud.
these flowers i don't know the name, i thought they were cherry blossoms but i don't even know what those are except that they are all over japan.
...and connected with the passing of life.
a moment after it landed. coming into, from out of my area of sight appeared this little old man working as a sweeper in the temple's park
with a sweeper and a bin.
as if he was naturally flowing around this park sweeping every fallen petal up.
he swept it up in that same moment.
and moved from my sight again...i was still looking at that space that the petal just a moment before, was.
-everything and everyone, we are all passing
life really is sad. a beautiful joyful sadness.
