No.72

The Geppa Pavilion of the Katsura Imperial Villa, Kyoto

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Solitude
Ella Wheeler Wilcox 1850-1919

Laugh and the world laughs with you;
Weep, and you weep alone.
For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth,
But has trouble enough of its own.
Sing, and the hills will answer;
Sigh, it is lost on the air.
The echoes bound to a joyful sound,
But shrink from voicing care.

Rejoice, and men will seek you;
Grieve, and they turn and go.
They want full measure of all your pleasure,
But they do not need your woe.
Be glad, and your friends are many;
Be sad, and you lose them all.
There are none to decline your nectared wine,
But alone you must drink life's gall.

Feast, and your halls are crowded;
Fast, and the world goes by.
Succeed and give, and it helps you live,
But no man can help you die.
There is room in the halls of pleasure
For a long and lordly train,
But one by one we must all file on
Through the narrow aisles of pain. 

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Reflections on the Thames
by Atkinson Grimshaw
1836-93

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There was a time when civil wars were common in Japan. The story is told of a Zen master who refused to flee from his village despite the approach of a ruthless invading army. 

 Seeing that all the villagers had fled and curious about the one person who had stayed, the general sought out the Zen master. When the latter didn’t show any deference to him, the general was angry.

“You fool,” he shouted, reaching for his sword, “don’t you realise you are standing before a man who could run you through without blinking an eye?"

"And do you realize," the master replied softly, "that you are standing before a man who can be run through without blinking an eye?"

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This is Sammy who looks after Fiona and Brian

Namasté

Next post Friday 4th May

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