Strong in the Rain: Kenji Miyazawa

​Strong in the Rain':
 
Strong in the rain

Strong in the wind
Strong against the summer heat and snow
He is healthy and robust

Free from desire
He never loses his temper

Nor the quiet smile on his lips

He eats four go of unpolished rice
Miso and a few vegetables a day

He does not consider himself
In whatever occurs

His understanding
Comes from observation and experience

And he never loses sight of things

He lives in a little thatched-roof hut
In a field in the shadows of a pine tree grove

If there is a sick child in the east

He goes there to nurse the child

If there’s a tired mother in the west

He goes to her and carries her sheaves

If someone is near death in the south

He goes and says, ‘Don’t be afraid’

If there are strife and lawsuits in the north

He demands that the people put an end to their pettiness

He weeps at the time of drought

He plods about at a loss during the cold summer

Everybody calls him Blockhead
No one sings his praises
Or takes him to heart...
That is the sort of person
I want to be
Kenji Miyazawa