A DANCE IN THE DARK

A small swamp in Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan.

Tucked away behind a dense forest, and only those who live close by know of its existence.

It was a dark afternoon in late April. The place was covered in fog, and the rain was pouring on me as if my presence there was not very welcome.

I had seen withered larches and white birches that stood straight in water, but the ones there were live trees with winding branches, and would bear leaves in early May.

They looked overjoyed at the long-awaited arrival of spring.

They pretended they didn’t see me, and kept on dancing in the dark in jubilation.