First days of Spring-the sky <br />is bright blue, the sun huge and warm. <br />Everything's turning green. <br />Carrying my monk's bowl, I walk to the village <br />to beg for my daily meal. <br />The children spot me at the temple gate <br />and happily crowd around, <br />dragging to my arms till I stop. <br />I put my bowl on a white rock, <br />hang my bag on a branch. <br />First we braid grasses and play tug-of-war, <br />then we take turns singing and keeping a kick-ball in the air: <br />I kick the ball and they sing, they kick and I sing. <br />Time is forgotten, the hours fly. <br />People passing by point at me and laugh: <br />'Why are you acting like such a fool?' <br />I nod my head and don't answer. <br />I could say something, but why? <br />Do you want to know what's in my heart? <br />From the beginning of time: just this! just this!<br /><br />Taigu Ryokan<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/first-days-of-spring-the-sky/
