While reading Kim’s post I was reminded of the Japanese celebration of ohanami or the Cherry Blossom Festival. They observe this same appreciation of the brief, but intense beauty of such times. Different seasons, same sense.
“I was listening to something on the radio the other day (or did I read it?) where a poet made an interesting comment within his explanation of what distinguishes “mere” poetry from great poetry. He said that part of the allure of flowers is that they are the beautiful proof of the existence of something living–something that is definitely going to die.
Autumn has always been my favorite season, and part of that might well be that I agree with his assessment. There is a poignancy in that fleeting life that accentuates their beauty, and the many tints and colors that plants take on during the last gasp of fall only serve to highlight that.” -Kim, Black Swamp Girl