Bending neither to the rain

bending neither to the rain

nor to the wind

nor to the snow nor summer heat

firm in body, yet

unfettered by desire

never losing one’s temper

and always quietly smiling

eating four cups of brown rice

with miso soup and a few vegetables each day

in all maters

putting oneself last

watching and listening, and understanding

and never forgetting

in the shade of a pine grove

living in a small thatch hut

if there is a sick child in the east

he goes and tends him

if there is a tired mother in the west

he goes and shoulders her load

if someone is dying in the south,

he goes and calms their fears

if there is a quarrel to the north,

he goes and demands they put an end to their pettiness

during times of drought, he sheds tears

in cool summers, fearing for the harvest, he walks nervously

considered a fool by all

neither praised

nor blamed

such a person

I long to be

                    --Miyazawa Kenji (1896-1933)

After Miyazawa Kenji's death, a black notebook was found in the lid of his trunk.  It was filled with the repeated copy of a Buddhist prayer, "namu myoho renge kyo", a verse from the Lotus Sutra. Amongst the repeated mantra, the above poem was written.  It dates, November 6, 1931, a time in Miyazawa Kenji's life when he was quite ill.

Miyazawa Kenji was a social activist, writer and teacher who dedicated his life to rural farmers.