departures (2)

 The cattail (bulrush) begins its journey

 The susuki (Miscanthus sinensis) begins its journey

departures (1)

Each year comes with more and more goodbyes. Autumn, a natural season for departures, makes such losses even more poignant than they already are. I try to remember that departure from here connects to arrival somewhere else, and new life.

The card at the top is for a dear friend who has decided to leave Japan after more than 40 years. The intended recipients of the other two must remain a mystery.

illustration friday (crooked)

Japanese-style scarecrow in a rice field

illustration friday (burst)

This "bursting chestnut" etegami quotes from Ode to a Chestnut on the Ground, a poem by Pablo Neruda.

etegami fun club newsletter

This weekend I will be sending out the first issue of a monthly newsletter about anything related to etegami. If you are interested in signing up for it (it's free), and want to know how, go to the original post here.  The newsletter will arrive in your email box as an attached PDF file. The first issue is only two pages long and feedback is very welcome.

illustration friday (imagination)

The word "imagination" immediately calls to mind Misuzu Kaneko (1903-1930), the beloved Japanese writer of poems and songs for children. This is the fifth poem I've translated for my on-going series of etegami illustrating Kaneko's poems. It seems especially appropriate for this week's topic.

The Stars and the Dandelion

In the deepest part of the blue sky,
like small stones that sink to the bottom of the sea,
the stars wait until nightfall
the eye cannot see them by daylight

though you cannot see them, they are there
things you can't see are still there

The wilted dandelion, bare of fluff

in a crack of the riverbank, silent
concealed, waits for spring
its powerful root hidden from the eye

though you cannot see it, it is there
things you can't see are still there

by Misuzu Kaneko

winners of the september give-away

Thanks to all the WONderful readers who asked to be included in the drawing for the etegami-collage give-away! I wanted to send something to each of you, but, alas, I had to draw four names from a brown paper bag, and these are the results! Congratulations to:

Aurora gets the snail.
Laura B gets the well.
Perogyo gets the cap.
Christine gets the cow-- Christine, please email me your full name and postal address so I can send the card to its new home. dosankodebbie (at) yahoo (dot) co (dot) jp