What It Means to Be Alive - A Poem -

To be alive
is to touch with two fingers
the sad purple of a bellflower

is to row a boat far away
and be dyed in the blue of the lake

is to light a sparkler
at a night festival that knows no end
and think of someone far away

is to buy a prayer bell from Kannon-sama
press your hands together in front of the shrine
and wish for everyone's happiness

is to write a letter in blue ink
with the fountain pen my father gave me
and cherish the kindness of the heart
and the fleeting nature of life

is to chase after red dragonflies
flying in the sunset
and walk along the field path as the day ends

To be alive
is to hold a cherry tellin shell to your ear
on a white, shallow sandy beach
and while listening to the song of the roaring sea
search for your voice

To be alive
is to gather tears of sadness
place them on a bamboo leaf boat
and let them drift down the golden sunset river
(This is a rewrite of a 2022 work)

#Poetry #Poetry #lyric #lyrical poem #love #introduction of my work #life #Tateyama Tsurugi
#festive sash #sparkler #fountain pen #bamboo leaf boat #