one bird playing in silence among the blossoms
damatte asobu tori no ichiwa ga hana no naka
1938–1939 · Yuda · Fūraikyo hut
Sōmokutō · Cold and Alone (Kokan)
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Among the blossoms a single bird plays, not even singing. Not to be seen by anyone, not competing with anyone. In the words "playing in silence" seeps Santōka's longing for the stillness he saw in the bird. Even the onlooker feels moved, for a while, to hold his tongue.