October
Surrounded by a clear stream,
boundless sky, mountain fields of waving pampas
grass,
and nestled in a carpet of blossoming wild chrysanthemums
and autumn grasses
under a canopy of leaves of Japanese nutmeg
evergreens glistening in the autumn sun,
lies a temple famous for bush clover where crowds
of visitors come to view the flowers.
Each tree and shrub contributes
a touch of color to the pallet
with its own unique fruit and autumn foliage
-persimmon, smilax, virburnum, chocolate vines,
snake gourd, akebonoso (Swertia bimaculata).
On entering the temple precincts,
with the charming pure white akebonoso twinkling
like stardust,
branches of a persimmon tree, and out-of-season
hydrangea,
I made a flower arrangement in a soy sauce cask
that had been discarded under a bench.
Here, where the lingering
evening glow arrives early,
the setting sun lights up the steps leading
to the mountain temple.
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