Sakura

Sweet as you may be
You blush at the end of March
My cherry blossom.

Petal dance with me
Your pink paints the canvas
Far as the eyes see.

Love is in the air
The breeze carries your fragrance
We tag along for the ride.

        Sakura (桜) – Sakura means “cherry blossom” and is derived from Saku 咲, which means to bloom, or alternately to smile/laugh. The 口 in 咲 indicates an open mouth. Cherry blossoms are a symbolic flower of the spring, a time of renewal, and the fleeting nature of life.

// In college, I entered a haiku contest, which inspired me to write this poem. After submitting it, I attended a cherry blossom festival. To my surprise, my poem won first place! I received a gift card as a prize and was invited to dine at a Japanese restaurant with some staff members and the college president.