Aida's Memorable Poem

There are some poems which captivate our heart and continue to hold our attention in its grip even though the pages in the book in which we found it have been closed a long while ago.Here's one such poem by the Japanese poet, Mitsuo Aida (1924-91).

  

Because it has lived its life intensely

the parched grass still attracts the gaze of passers-by.

The flowers merely flower,

and they do this as well as they can.

The white lily, blooming unseen in the valley,

Does not need to explain itself to anyone;

It lives merely for beauty.

Men, however, cannot accept that 'merely'.

If tomatoes wanted to be melons,

they would look completely ridiculous.

I am always amazed

that so many people are concerned

with wanting to be what they are not;

what's the point of making yourself look ridiculous?

You don't always have to pretend to be strong,

there's no need to prove all the time that everything is going well,

you shouldn't be concerned about what other people are thinking,

cry if you need to,

it's good to cry out all your tears

(because only then will you be able to smile again).

This poem was quoted by Paulo Coelho in his book 'Like the Flowing River'.