Spring haiku

Photo credit: Yantar Yoga

I’ve always been intrigued by the ancient art of haiku, traditional Japanese short poems consisting of three phrases arranged in a 5, 7, 5 syllable pattern. They often focus on one moment in nature, capturing an impression in that moment and ending with a shift of perspective or enlightenment of some kind. I used my first (post?) COVID-era pilgrimage to the Tidal Basin during peak bloom of cherry blossoms - sakura in Japanese - to try my hand at haiku. It was rainy at times when I visited and that gave me the inspiration. You be the judge :)

Spring shower passes

Blossoms shimmer like mirrors

City in a drop

I am also fascinated by the history of cherry blossom trees at that iconic location. They were planted back in 1912 as a gift of friendship to the people of the United States from the people of Japan. Tokyo's Mayor, Yukio Ozaki, arranged the gift of 2,000 cherry trees to Washington DC upon request from First Lady Helen Herron Taft. The first shipment, which arrived in 1910, turned out to be infested with insects and had to be destroyed. The second donation of over 3,000 arrived in March of 1912. Helen Taft and the wife of the Japanese Ambassador planted two Yoshino cherry trees on the northern bank of the Tidal Basin (they still stand) and DC's renowned National Cherry Blossom Festival grew from this simple ceremony. From then on, cherry tries around the Basin have continued to flourish and delight.

In 1915, in a gesture of gratitude, President Taft sent a gift of flowering dogwood trees to Japan. In 1952, DC was able to further reciprocate the gift of trees. The cherry tree grove along the Arakawa River near Tokyo, parent stock for Washington's first trees, had fallen into decline during World War II and Japan requested help to restore the grove. The National Park Service obliged and shipped budwood from descendants of those original trees back to Tokyo. The cycle of gifting and regifting has continued through the years. Looking at the cherry blossoms today in these turbulent times makes me think back to the values they embody beyond their ephemeral beauty. Cross-cultural friendship, mutual assistance, and finding mindfulness in nature - we need more of these around the world today for sure.