Sakura, Sakura....

I mentioned a few blogs ago that Dad has been singing a Japanese song, "Sakura." I had no idea what it meant, or even if it was actually a song. But I looked it up just now and found the lyrics. Turns out, "Sakura" means "cherry blossoms" and the song is an old Japanese folk song. I've pasted the lyrics below because when I read them, the simple beauty of the words made me well up inside. My father can be stubborn and gruff and incredibly frustrating at times. But when he sings "Sakurahhh, Sakurahhh..." his voice is so delicate (a word I doubt anybody would use to describe my dad) and full of so much longing and tenderness.

.............anyway..........here are the lyrics.

Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,

On Meadow-hills and mountains

As far as you can see.

Is it a mist, or clouds?

Fragrant in the morning sun.

Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,

Flowers in full bloom.

Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,

Across the Spring sky,

As far as you can see.

Is it a mist, or clouds?

Fragrant in the air.

Come now, come,

Let’s look, at last!