Late January.
Tomorrow, February begins.
And so, once again,
the days quietly pass.

Are they moving quickly,
or slowly…?

The forest, which appears
as though everything has come to a halt,
is gathering its strength beneath the frozen ground,
quietly and steadily preparing itself.
Though unseen,
it is surely moving toward “that moment.”

Soon, it will be Risshun—
the quiet beginning of spring.
Once February has passed,
spring will be just a little closer.
Before long,
snowdrops and crocuses
will awaken.

Before the season grows bright and lively,
I want to savor
this cold, beautiful stillness
just a little longer.