The other day we had quite a dramatic weather shift. Instantly a haiku came to mind to describe it.
and snowing the next
only in this country
The other day it was warm weather here. The ume blossoms started to bloom, I went out without a coat, it felt like spring was here! Then yesterday... it snowed. Spring weather is often back and forth, but I can't recall getting so much snow here before, nor so late in the winter.
I wrote this haiku somewhat tongue-in-cheek. Back in my home country and State, Indiana, people almost constantly complain about the weather. "Only in Indiana!" is an incredibly common phrase when referring to how changeable the weather can be. Warming in the morning and cold at night, stormy at daybreak, but clear and sunny by afternoon, etc. Hoosiers (that is, Indiana residents) are convinced that these kind of weather changes only happen in their State.
What's funny about that is that I hear the exact same thing in Japan, with people complaining that this kind of changeable weather is only to be found here. I strongly suspect that most places on earth—or at least most places in areas that get all four seasons—see the exact same complaints. The grass is always greener on the other side, eh? And here is the only place where it's brown!
It's funny, but that's human nature for you. We are a silly people. So I suppose this haiku has a slight degree of mocking about it, but mostly it is smiling at the humor of the situation and of us.
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David is an American teacher and translator lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time and searching for the perfect haiku. He blogs here and at laspina.org. Write him on Mastodon. |
