Plum Blossom Viewing at the Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine

By Justine C. Tajonera

Lovely flowers bloom.
Dew gathers on the branches.
I watch Spring arrive.

(March 10, 2010)
Our photo from the shrine.

The Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine is dedicated to Michizane Sugawara , who because of his great learning during his lifetime, is worshipped as the patron of learning in Japan. He was fond of plum trees and all shrines dedicated to him always have plum trees at the entrance. This particular shrine, though, has an orchard of 2,000 plum trees, making it one of the best venues for plum blossom viewing in Japan.

A Dream Of Plum Blossoms

by Justine C. Tajonera

In March, the plum orchards
in the Kitano shrine
will be blooming
with flowers.

Today, I am contemplating
family budgets,
checklists,
and an impending
sore throat
with a
smile
on my lips.

Life is beautiful
lived in
anticipation.
Every day is
fragrant with Spring
and fruit and
early morning
mist.

The streets are
no longer lined
with traffic and the smell
of urine
but lit up for
Hana Toro.

It will not end
in March
if I am an adventurer
and not a drudge
waiting for adventure
to arrive.

(Nov. 10, 2009)

Hana Toro - a walking lane from Shorenin Temple to Kyomizu temple in the Higashiyama walking route lit with 2,400 lanterns from March 13 to March 22. 

Image depicts plum blossoms in the Kitano Tenmangu Srhine


Image from http://regex.info/i/JF7_010334.jpg