Courtesy of the Walters Art Museum via Wikimedia Commons
The sidewalk wanders past the tiny shops. I notice a pharmacy its shelves lined with aspirin in antiseptic white bottles across from a Chinese medicine store with a window lined with bottles of ginseng roots floating in amber liquid, a stationery store no larger than a walk-in closet, and a coffee shop. A businessman hurries past me into shop, releasing the aroma of the freshly ground beans into the cold air.
Today, I say, I will be aware that I am alive. Today I will notice, I will see, I will be.
Ginkgo trees stand between the street and the sidewalk, each an equal distance from the one in front, stretching as far as I can see down the thoroughfare. All are completely bare of leaves. I wear layers of clothing beneath my warmest coat. It is February in Tokyo.
Up ahead I see one tree laden with the round, feathered fruit of sparrows. Dozens sit in that one tree, and only that one. It surprises me, and my happiness doubles when I notice two men inside a small shop noticing them, too.
We do not speak, the men and I. We stand, watching, filled with wonder and delight.
Some years have passed since that cold winter day when I stopped to see the world. Even in a world empty and barren, hope lingers. A tree bereft of leaves can blossom forth in birds.
year-struck 
“Bare ruined choirs where late the sweet birds sang”
Shakespeare always says it better. 🙂
Oh, I have missed these poetic posts of yours! Lovely.
Thanks for reading, RAB.
how resolute, the heart of a believer
Against my better judgment, I remain optimistic.
May the “bird of paradise” fly up your ginkgo..
That is definitely something I must ponder. 🙂
Then you’ve come to the right place.
Your story reminds me of the Chinese saying…….”Keep a green tree in your heart and the singing bird will come”
I like that saying. Thanks for sharing it.
I’m so happy to find your words again.