Chasing Leaves, on Yakushima.
Chasing Leaves
Some days are grittier than others
And that’s why we like to drop in on the fall
We meet the world with a curious eye
And find that miraculous spot —
Where all is forgotten and forgiven
Our scattered steps attract a wandering doe
Jolting awake the surrounding greens
The monkey, startled above in the tall fir tree,
Stares into the void of the rustling
A busy bee joins my scene
circling my camera
pointed at the silk flowing underneath the bridge
Rainbows don’t care if days are gloomy
The fog likes to fall months and miles apart
We find quietude where sounds belong
And breathe
(To Yakushima Island, Japan)
屋久岛的雨声和绿叶
屋久岛是一个很惊喜的发现。
我们（我和我先生）在2022年的秋天旅行到了屋久岛。我们从鹿儿岛坐船到了屋久岛，大概要40分钟。岛上有很多的雾。但是一会儿就出了太阳。我们还看到了彩虹。
开车在屋久岛的道路上是一种很舒服的体验。我们看到了绿叶和山的侧影，仿佛在诉说什么。山很美。我们徒步进入了山里，发现很快就被树包围了。
这些树年龄都很大了，所以森林感觉很温暖。我走着走着，停在了一个叫“気根杉”（“气根杉”）的大树旁边。我以为“気根杉”的意思是说这个杉树有很多的灵气。但我之后查了查发现“气根”的意思是这个树有很多根是长在泥土之上，暴露在空气里的根。不管怎么样，我和这棵树狠狠合了几张照。然后我回到家以后，过了一两年，还时不时会想到它。
屋久岛给我的礼物有很多。这是其中一个。其他的还有呢？想到再说吧。
The Rain and Greenery of Yakushima
Yakushima was a discovery. I didn’t know that I would rest so well there.
We traveled to the island in the fall of 2022, my husband and I. We boarded the boat in Kagoshima City and the ride was forty minutes.
The island was covered in fog from time to time, and then the sun would just come out and greet us. We saw several rainbows there during our four-day stay.
We drove around quite a bit. Driving in Yakushima was extraordinary. Trees and leaves enfolded us. The mountains in the distance were humming.
We hiked deeper and deeper into the mountains and met streams, deer, wildlife, and greenery.
The trees were very, very old…Ancient, you may say. They made the forest feel very warm. I stopped at a giant tree with exposed roots. There was a sign saying: "気根杉" (Kikon-sugi). 気, in Japanese, means Qi, the universal life energy. At first, I thought that's what the sign meant: that the tree has a lot of rooted, life energy. But later, I discovered that it could just mean that the tree has many exposed roots (hence 気根, aerial roots), a more literal sign. In any case, I took several pictures with this tree. I thought about this tree a few times back home. I also reminisced about the time we spent in Yakushima.
This was one of the many gifts that Yakushima gave me. There are certainly more but I’ll wait to share, next time…
