In Place 13

13

The old woman finds a bench difficult,
more so every day; one last sit
before she gives it up —tap bell, groan, rise —
lotus, half lotus? Ha!




When she first began sitting at the hut, use of the seiza or kneeling bench was easy for the old woman; but it became increasingly painful for her; here we see it being used for the last time and it has since been replaced by a chair. All things come to an end, as will the use of the hut, as will this old woman’s life. The book on the floor is an edition of some of Ryokan’s poetry.

Falling blossoms.
Blossoms in bloom are also
falling blossoms.
— Ryokan  (tr. Tanahashi)