Invisible Wall

When I had lunch in front of a glass wall, 
a dragonfly had fallen down from the ceiling.  

It seemed to die in the last ditch.  
Did not move at all.  

I thought, “How come you dare to die in front of me?”  
Then suddenly it attacked to the glass wall with its final effort.  
...Stood still but seemed to be alive.  

I caught it with its wings.  
It fought back by flexing its body.  
I was so impressed and took it outside.  

I found a sprinkler and put the dragonfly nearby.  
It could not fly but started eating the lawn.  What a life...  

From time to time, I also come up against the invisible walls.  
I learned from the dragonfly that you should never give up till the end, 
even if you can not find a way by yourself.  

I am sure it was put in front of my remissness.  
Not by chance.

Father's Back

A year since my friend's passing.

From time to time, he has come up to my mind.
He should have been in his families all the time.
Besides, taken care of others.
He is such an attentive person.

Generally sons grow up looking at their father's back.
I am wondering what is his son now looking at.
I would assume sons should learn from their father in some parts and push back in other parts.
As my friend was perfectly a nice person and now is in heaven, it would be hard to push him back.

Though it's personal, I feel sorry for this point, too.

Thoughts to bridge, beliefs to continue

Gave a talk on the Great East Japan Earthquake, at a highschool in Tokyo.
Though having done so little for the reconstruction, I tried to tell the unreported stories.
During my talk I could not get good response from the students, and got few questions.
I was wondering if my talk had been well organized.

But a few days later, I got their review sheets with full of their emotions.
"Be moved.  Near to tears."
"I also got goose bumps all over, almost with tears."
"By any means I do want to talk to the people in the North East."

I found they were not unresponsive, but just concealed their emotions.
What impressed them was actually not my word but a twitter message I referred to;

"A kid was in a check-out line at a grocery store, having some sweets in the hands.
Approaching to the cashier, thinking over and over, kept looking at the cash register...
Finally put all the money to the donation box by the register,
returned the sweets to the shelf, and got out of the store.
The clerk said to its back, 'Thank you so much!' in a trembling voice.
@matsugen"

Next month, as a collaboration with the high school students,
I am going to deliver another science program in Miyagi,
concealing the title of my talk
"Thoughts to bridge, beliefs to continue" in my heart.