That you know the cherry blossoms doubtless know what's best for you epitomizes why I love coming to know you and your work, Jeffrey. That you're showing me how their beauty is brave and thoughtless and linked to bushido too. This is among my favorite of your pieces. I'll read it again to soak it all in.
Thank you for your kind comments and for sharing, Holly! I'm feeling a little giddy from the beauty of the Sakura at the moment, so I'm glad this essay worked for you.
Wow Jeff, this was an emotional ride to read. The beauty of the images and your reflections - thank you for sharing. I particularly loved the inclusion of the kanji which to my delight were familiar. I have hundreds of photos of cherry blossom from my time in Japan - how lucky we were to work so close to 哲学の道, Tetsugaku no michi - Philosopher's path lined with cherry trees. 7 years ago in April when I came to view the house I now live in the first thing we saw was a cherry tree in full bloom in front of it. And to my delight there was an even bigger one in the garden at the back. But your piece also resonated with me because I studied Japanese history at Glasgow Uni which was the beginning of my path to living in Japan. Each spring I pick forget-me-knots from my garden and put them in tiny vases I bought in Kyoto. Joy in the small details.
So much to love in this Jeffrey—as I live in a northern clime of April snow, I’m grateful for these glimpses of spring beauty, and especially, the cherry trees. I visited the nightingale floors and have never gotten over the beauty of a bird sound incorporated as a means of defense, of warning. So incredible. And those anemones, flowers fleeting as the wind. So loved reading this. 🌸
Such a lovely piece! And such a light touch with all your accumulated research and experience. I loved it as a reader but I’m also impressed by it as a writer. You’ve balanced it so beautifully. 🙏
(Those spring winds are blowing in NYC too— and a little earthquake to shake things up!)
I love the way you link endings and beginnings in this piece, Jeffrey, and all under the beauty of sakura. Your reflections are gentle and thoughtful but there is meaning in them for all of us. Thank you.
Beautiful. The visual of those beautiful flowers intertwined with so much in Japanese life and history is so powerful.
I think very fondly about the beginnings of school years, but it’s tied to the smell of fresh paint at my school, the damp cool air, and the bright colours of the changing leaves. Japanese adults must get intense melancholy for their student days during this season, seeing all the trees.
Thanks for the wonderful photos Jeffery. The delicate beauty of cherry blossoms, the way how old (the tree) and new (the blossoms) reflect on each other, and the shades of dreamy pink. They never fail to put me in a tranquil state of mind ...
Thank you, Yi Xue! Yes, many of the trees are quite old and a little gnarled. It's wonderful, as you say, how the freshness and delicacy of the petals contrast with the solidity of those well-aged trunks.
Thank you, Rona! I hadn't read that poem for a while, so thanks for the reminder.
On the way back from more Sakura viewing this morning I was thinking of this poem: https://englishverse.com/poems/home_thoughts_from_abroad Browning is one of my favourite of the English poets and I tend to read him this time of year. I was reflecting that only the beauty of the spring here could prevent me from missing the English spring.
So beautiful, Jeffrey,--“the trees whose white petals are surrounded by green leaves” are something that we’ve found ourselves meditating on recently with our own cherry trees. Nothing like blossom to get you pondering the fractal nature of the universe...
You do know how to stop time in its tracks, Mr. Streeter. This is absolutely lovely. I'm reminded of a particular cherry tree on the campus of UC Berkeley, one of the very few (not the only one, was it?) right by Strawberry Creek. The first time I saw it I was absolutely stunned - it was lush and old - and I sat down on a mossy boulder underneath it, captivated. Hanami feels like the spirit of the trees reaching out to speak to us... 💮💮💮
Thank you, Troy! I'm thrilled to get a comment like that from a writer of your calibre.
I like what you say about the spirit of the tees reaching out to us. You're right, it feels somehow that the conversations under the trees include us all. Thank you for sharing that lovely thought.
That you know the cherry blossoms doubtless know what's best for you epitomizes why I love coming to know you and your work, Jeffrey. That you're showing me how their beauty is brave and thoughtless and linked to bushido too. This is among my favorite of your pieces. I'll read it again to soak it all in.
Thank you for your kind comments and for sharing, Holly! I'm feeling a little giddy from the beauty of the Sakura at the moment, so I'm glad this essay worked for you.
In my giddiness, I forgot to add what a joy it was to read your comment; to be read like this by a writer I so admire is very special.
Wow Jeff, this was an emotional ride to read. The beauty of the images and your reflections - thank you for sharing. I particularly loved the inclusion of the kanji which to my delight were familiar. I have hundreds of photos of cherry blossom from my time in Japan - how lucky we were to work so close to 哲学の道, Tetsugaku no michi - Philosopher's path lined with cherry trees. 7 years ago in April when I came to view the house I now live in the first thing we saw was a cherry tree in full bloom in front of it. And to my delight there was an even bigger one in the garden at the back. But your piece also resonated with me because I studied Japanese history at Glasgow Uni which was the beginning of my path to living in Japan. Each spring I pick forget-me-knots from my garden and put them in tiny vases I bought in Kyoto. Joy in the small details.
Hi Julie I'm so glad you enjoyed this and thank you for sharing your own memories. Joy in the small details indeed!
So much to love in this Jeffrey—as I live in a northern clime of April snow, I’m grateful for these glimpses of spring beauty, and especially, the cherry trees. I visited the nightingale floors and have never gotten over the beauty of a bird sound incorporated as a means of defense, of warning. So incredible. And those anemones, flowers fleeting as the wind. So loved reading this. 🌸
Thank you, Freya! That means a lot to me. Your amazing post on spring has been on my mind - a very different kind of spring from here, as you say.
This was a beautiful and illuminating read as always Jeffrey. Educational and thought-provoking.
Thank you very much, Daniel! I really appreciate your comments.
Such a lovely piece! And such a light touch with all your accumulated research and experience. I loved it as a reader but I’m also impressed by it as a writer. You’ve balanced it so beautifully. 🙏
(Those spring winds are blowing in NYC too— and a little earthquake to shake things up!)
Thank you, Victoria! I really appreciate your comments. And I hope we all stay safe from earthquakes!
What a lovely reflection, ending in hopefulness as befits a good ending. Thank you for sharing, and as always, for sharing such gorgeous pictures!
Thank you so much, Stephanie!
Beautiful reflections on fragility and transience. Thank you, Jeffrey
Thank you!
I love the way you link endings and beginnings in this piece, Jeffrey, and all under the beauty of sakura. Your reflections are gentle and thoughtful but there is meaning in them for all of us. Thank you.
Thank you, June! I really appreciate your comments.
Gorgeous. I can’t get enough of it 🌸
I know what you mean!
Beautiful. The visual of those beautiful flowers intertwined with so much in Japanese life and history is so powerful.
I think very fondly about the beginnings of school years, but it’s tied to the smell of fresh paint at my school, the damp cool air, and the bright colours of the changing leaves. Japanese adults must get intense melancholy for their student days during this season, seeing all the trees.
Thank you, Ani. Yes, I guess the cherry blossom must bring back many memories. But my own memories of school are closer to yours.
Thanks for the wonderful photos Jeffery. The delicate beauty of cherry blossoms, the way how old (the tree) and new (the blossoms) reflect on each other, and the shades of dreamy pink. They never fail to put me in a tranquil state of mind ...
Thank you, Yi Xue! Yes, many of the trees are quite old and a little gnarled. It's wonderful, as you say, how the freshness and delicacy of the petals contrast with the solidity of those well-aged trunks.
I am there with you taking in the cherry blossoms. The other day, I discovered this English take on cherry blossoms. You must already know the poem, which chimes with what you’ve written here. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44411/a-shropshire-lad-2-loveliest-of-trees-the-cherry-now
Thank you, Rona! I hadn't read that poem for a while, so thanks for the reminder.
On the way back from more Sakura viewing this morning I was thinking of this poem: https://englishverse.com/poems/home_thoughts_from_abroad Browning is one of my favourite of the English poets and I tend to read him this time of year. I was reflecting that only the beauty of the spring here could prevent me from missing the English spring.
Grateful to get this eloquently presented cherry blossom background and how it fits in to Japanese culture! Thank you!
Thank you for your kind comment! I'm so glad you enjoyed this post.
Beautiful! Love the timeless wisdom expressed by Japanese culture/art. 🌿🌸
Thank you, James! I'm enjoying learning more about Japanese culture.
So beautiful, Jeffrey,--“the trees whose white petals are surrounded by green leaves” are something that we’ve found ourselves meditating on recently with our own cherry trees. Nothing like blossom to get you pondering the fractal nature of the universe...
Thank you, Chloe! Yes, blossom certainly provokes thought as well as wonder.
You do know how to stop time in its tracks, Mr. Streeter. This is absolutely lovely. I'm reminded of a particular cherry tree on the campus of UC Berkeley, one of the very few (not the only one, was it?) right by Strawberry Creek. The first time I saw it I was absolutely stunned - it was lush and old - and I sat down on a mossy boulder underneath it, captivated. Hanami feels like the spirit of the trees reaching out to speak to us... 💮💮💮
Thank you, Troy! I'm thrilled to get a comment like that from a writer of your calibre.
I like what you say about the spirit of the tees reaching out to us. You're right, it feels somehow that the conversations under the trees include us all. Thank you for sharing that lovely thought.