for what reason do you pass this way?

this world

 

Humans born into

this floating world
 quickly become

like the roadside dust:
 at dawn small children,


by sunset already grown white-haired,
 without inner

understanding,
 they struggle without cease.


I ask the children of the universe:


for what reason do you

pass this way?

 

Ryokan

dewdrops on a lotus leaf