Belleville, NJ
posted by NJP at
5:15 PM
Author of "Hillside Pleasure Park" and "A Dutch Christmas in Old Second River 1697" [] All content of this site is Copyright 2005-2016 Norman Price and may not be reproduced in any manner without written consent.[]
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There is the tale of a lad returned from the war, hard used in battle, hobbled by his wounds. He could be seen on most days walking along the path among the Cherry Blossom trees. It was soothing to him to be among them. He came in every season. The sakura were charming while in blossom but he enjoyed them as well in summer as they relaxed in the warm sun renewing their energies. Autumn was a wonder when each tree would express itself with a different color palette and all together they were dazzling. It was on a late Winter's day when the sakura were bare, the pose with which they would display their beauty in early Spring was sharply defined against the cold, blue Winter sky, when he caught a glimpse of a shadow nearly obscured by brilliant sunlight playing on snow. The sakura spirits would rather you didn't see when they step out of their sleeping trees to rehearse the Cherry Blossom Ballet in the time just before Spring, but a sharp eye on the long shadows of a late Winter afternoon will sometimes reward you with a glimpse. The lad saw among the deep shadows a dancing figure so lovely that his heart leaped and his knees nearly buckled. You know how it is when you see that special girl for the first time. After awhile this charmingly cute village-girl spirit became aware of his gaze. Amused by his adulation, she teased him a bit by striking her prettiest poses. She held his gaze for a long time. He became lost in his vision. How could he know that she was a tree spirit three centuries older than he? He only knew she was perfect. Of course, spirits are ageless, neither young nor old, but he was a long time passing from joining her. She, too, was becoming enchanted by the noble warrior spirit she saw deep within the woebegone soldier. She determined to use her best skills to engage him 'til the time might be right. And so it was that season after season, year after year, he came to the Cherry Blossom grove to admire her. So enamored was he that he came to adore her when she blossomed, when she relaxed in the Summer sun, when she was glowing in Autumn and, best of all, when she rehearsed her ballet in late Winter. At the turn of many seasons, when the time was finally right, both the tree and the old soldier were gone. He had joined his beloved tree spirit. Watch on a breezy Spring day, when blossom petals are swirling all around you, if your heart is light, you can see them dancing together among the swirls in the Cherry Blossom grove where they first met.
(c)Norman James Price 2009
Cherry Blossom gifts
--- Archive photos from 1976.---
A pretty tree stands striking a graceful pose, crowned with blossoms, an elegant image of feminine perfection. Since time immemorial, the cherry blossom tree has been regarded as female. The ancient Japanese character which means "cherry blossom", sakura, tells us exactly that.
The Japanese character, the kanji. is made of several components. On the left is the basic ideogram of a tree. In the lower right is the symbol of the feminine on top of which is floral decoration. The kanji is sakura, a pretty tree-woman with flowers in her hair. She is worshipped throughout Japan. In China, the cherry blossom is a symbol of feminine beauty and sexuality. It has also come to represent the feminine principle and love in the language of herbs. It, too, represents feminine power. We, in the West, admire the girlish aspect of these stunning trees who pose in Spring as pretty ballerinas clad in flowers in graceful pirouettes, fine tondues or grande arabesque penchées. Then, we return in Autumn to see the explosion of colors that can be viewed in a grove of many varieties, each with its own pallet of hues. We may allow ourselves to see, in the theatre of the minds eye, the wish-granting fairies darting in and about the swirling spectacle of Autumn leaves just before Halloween. Even in deep Winter, when the trees are bare, their dainty, exquisite forms can be seen against a stark blue sky and we fancy that the tree spirits are rehearsing their poses for the coming Spring. The legends persist. To be sure, the manner in which a people regard the sacred feminine, defines their level of civilization more accurately than any other aspect of themselves.
Njp7944 Welsh Gifts
[] All content of Cherry Blossom Village is Copyright 2005 - 2014 Norman Price and may not be reproduced in any manner without written consent.[]
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