Let's end it with big laughs!
Senza più peso
Per un Iddio che rida come un bimbo,
Tanti gridi di passeri,
Tante danze nei rami,
Un'anima si fa senza più peso,
I prati hanno una tale tenerezza,
Tale pudore negli occhi rivive,
Le mani come foglie
S'incantano nell'aria...
Chi teme più, chi giudica?
Giuseppe Ungaretti, Sentimento del Tempo, "L'amore"; 1934.
(Shimogamo jinja. You can see here a few more images of the Aoi matsuri.)
* * *
[Nota bene, after reading the comments by miramann and tontomas:]
After visiting Japan in 1979, Jorge Luis Borges said he had been delighted by the revelation that for the Japanese a sanctuary "has not to do, as for us, with solemnity and sacred terror. I remember the people laughing and making jokes in a temple in Nara (...) one could feel they were having fun. The sacred and humor are not mutually exclusive there, and the holy is perceived as something friendly." I have had the same experience hundreds of times. But what first came to my mind at the view of these young men happily laughing while crossing the Forest of the Truth (Tadasu no Mori) after partaking in a solemn ceremony at the Shimogamo Jinja —a shrine dating back to 6th century, and a most illustrious one— were not Borges’ words, but the poem quoted above. Not so strange, I must say. Although I have been reading Japanese poetry for more than two decades now, can’t remember when or how that began. But I will never forget the bright morning, some thirty years ago, when a schoolmate at the schoolyard discovered to me the poetry of Ungaretti — who, by the way, wrote a poem shorter than any haiku:
Mattina
M’illumino
d’immenso.
Comments and faves
goorn23, *Cak Noor*, miramann, Mari ...., and 27 other people added this photo to their favorites.
Leenda K (54 months ago | reply)
joyful spirits shining through here...
axiepics (54 months ago | reply)
great photo
The World Through My Eyes
Lye Tuck-Po (54 months ago | reply)
I think I missed this one. I caught the yabusame, though.
The World Through My Eyes
*Cak Noor* (54 months ago | reply)
Kawaii my friend!!!
</a
Please add this beautiful photo to CITRIT,Best of yours!
Citrit group
miramann (54 months ago | reply)
What a silent and great combination: ungarettis poem for a god who laughs like a child, warm colors in green and orange, and this joyful group! Let`s start with a big laugh......
Nikolas ı nikolase.fr (54 months ago | reply)
(Viewed in Photo-Of-The-Day)
tontomas [deleted] (54 months ago | reply)
Brilliant idea!
miramann (54 months ago | reply)
Thank you ionushi for adding the context !
NW-X (54 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Global Spirit, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
johnwalford (54 months ago | reply)
Solemn ceremony ceasing;
Young lips creasing;
Energy releasing.
--JW, December 30, 2007, for Ionushi, wishing you the best for 2008.
myrmardan (54 months ago | reply)
I like see people laughing.
Happy New Year
hanna.bi (54 months ago | reply)
I was discussing this photo and concept with my husband, and we agreed that Ungaretti is one of the few Italian poets we could actually bear reading when we were in school... a looong time ago!
Great shot and great sentiment.
aurelio.asiain (54 months ago | reply)
Not so long ago as for me, I'm afraid.
tontomas [deleted] (54 months ago | reply)
Thanks for explanations Aurelio, I wished I had a schoolmate like yours!
Also I already wondered how to get rid of the old year - Issa once recommended
Bark, bark! Go away!
Get lost now! Even the dog
yaps at the years end.
But in this case laughing is a much more entertaining method :)))
tommy.ak (54 months ago | reply)
I wish you have a wonderful 2008 :-)
berlin fan (54 months ago | reply)
Leanmar1 (54 months ago | reply)
Feliz año nuevo,Ali ;)
stelzer (54 months ago | reply)
Flickr Stars (post 1 - give 5 stars)
dawn m. armfield (54 months ago | reply)
wonderful capture.
--
Seen in Literary Reference in Pictures (?)
///vincent/// (54 months ago | reply)
Happy 2008!
Global Village 2 (post 1 - give a globe to 5)
Pedro Gerardo (54 months ago | reply)
Global Village 2 (post 1 - give a globe to 5)
pninaN (54 months ago | reply)
Global Village 2 (post 1 - give a globe to 5)
John's Images (54 months ago | reply)
Your excellent photo deserves a Tornado Award.
sunny-drunk (54 months ago | reply)
Ho Ho Ho..........
Your excellent photo deserves a Tornado Award.
troutfactory (54 months ago | reply)
Aurelio — Thanks again for such a beautiful quote and such a fantastic addition to LG. Amazing capture.
romero_castellanos (54 months ago | reply)
The link between your photo, Borges’ opinions, and Ungaretti’s poetry is really smart! Both, Ungaretti and Borges were concerned about the man’s existence, and the mysteries of life.
Borges wrote “Las ruinas circulares”, or “El Golem”, for example, while Ungaretti said:
In this darkness
with gelid
hands
I distinguish
my face
I see myself
abandoned in the infinite.
Thank you for your intelligent quote, you always make me think beyond the image!
Tony Margiocchi (Snapperz) (54 months ago | reply)
cool shot
CONGRATULATIONS.
Martinasia (54 months ago | reply)
Sugoi!
CONGRATULATIONS.
Dick Verton (54 months ago | reply)
Congratulations.
bDe gNas (54 months ago | reply)
wonderful photo
NW-X (54 months ago | reply)
Seen in Global Spirit
Lynn Morag (54 months ago | reply)
Wonderful poem! And an interesting scene and commentary on it.
--
Seen in Literary Reference in Pictures: post one/comment one - one a day (?)
Daniel Schwabe (54 months ago | reply)
Great capture, beautiful poem.
Happy 2008, my friend!
Seen in the 6+Faves, 100+Views, Leave 2 Comments Group
!;-)_orange_smile39 [deleted] (53 months ago | reply)
この写真、とてもかっこいい!!
yakul (53 months ago | reply)
Flickr Sun (Post 1 - Give 5 Sun)
erinealberty (53 months ago | reply)
Flickr Sun (Post 1 - Give 5 Sun)
K. Horn (53 months ago | reply)
Flickr Sun (Post 1 - Give 5 Sun)
John 3000 (53 months ago | reply)
Fantastic--love the color, and the image of bringing history to life.
Flickr Sun (Post 1 - Give 5 Sun)
Charles is late (51 months ago | reply)
archer10 (Dennis) (50 months ago | reply)
Seen in the Other Village
naruo0720 (50 months ago | reply)
Seen in the Exemplary Shots - Flickr's BEST GROUP
Exemplary Shots - Flickr's BEST (Post 1 Award 3)
jeff.antebi [deleted] (50 months ago | reply)
Seen in the Exemplary Shots - Flickr's BEST GROUP
Exemplary Shots - Flickr's BEST (Post 1 Award 3)
jeff.antebi [deleted] (50 months ago | reply)
Seen in the Other Village
Kei♫335(catch you soon) (50 months ago | reply)
This Photograph deserve another "Fl♥ckr Extraordinary Capture Award". as seen in our Pool, good job keep up the good work.
Fl♥ckr Extraordinary Capture Flaming HOT Award !
Please Tag your photo with ExCapture
Water Bowl (on & off) (50 months ago | reply)
Seen in the Other Village
Suzy Mack (50 months ago | reply)
Seen in the Other Village
gdraskoy (50 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Award Winner, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
good shot
--
Seen in Fl♥ckr Extraordinary Capture Award - Post 1 and Award Others! (?)
°Cactus*Pixie° - War is something I DESPISE - (49 months ago | reply)
This pic truly is an Emotion
Please consider adding this Emotion to Feelings & Emotions
Pleas tag your pic Feelings&Emotions
Clatjw (48 months ago | reply)
brilliant!
akkadII (47 months ago | reply)
As a curious fact, this image is on top results when you search on flickr for keyword" laugh " . I had featured it in one of my posts .
Terry Dactyl (41 months ago | reply)
good colors, good vibes!
ceridwenn (37 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Kokoro no shashin - Creative commons pictures of Japan, and we'd love to have this added to the group!