Birds bring me news of an approaching storm thunder has announced its arrival the refreshing droplets of liquid life grace the land an orchestra begins a symphony of life raindrops upon the roof offer comfort the sound I hear as nature delivers its song is like the plucking of the strings of a sanshin the traditional music of Okinawa now remembered I am taken back to the time I spent in Naha I was young then I had no appreciation for the cherry blossoms their beauty meant little to me I had no real understanding of life nor of the importance of peace of mind body and spirit now older my heart is ready to accept the natural order of life I revel in all that it has to offer if it is true that we came from dirt and unto dirt we shall return then it is not news that I and the Earth are one it is that we are no longer estranged