beyond the snow bowed

beyond the snow bowed

black pines, nebulous blue twilight,

Fujisan's presence

First act on awakening, open shoji, greet Fujisan. This morning, fog, a nebulous blue obscuring the space beyond black pines bowed with snow. Fujisan's presence, hidden, yet ever present.

late winter -- Fujisan

late winter –- Fujisan

under a white kasa framed

by open shoji

 

Fujisan looks like a lady carrying a white paper kasa to protect her face from the sun. The dark mountain half-covered with snow, the dark pines in front of the house, and the shoji with hinoki frames covered with white washi create a sublime contrast of dark and light.

Fujisan's peak

Fujisan’s peak

engulfed by cloud –- or mountain

engulfing cloud –- both

 

For one month in early 2005 I stayed at the home of my friend Hiroko Goto, who lives at the foot of Fujisan, the sacred mountain. My room was on the second floor, a beautiful traditional Japanese room with tatami, futon and no heat. Every morning I slipped out from under layers of quilts to slide open the shoji and greet Fujisan. And every morning she showed me a different face.