白い彼岸花 White Spider Lily
白い清楚な彼岸花が私の庭に咲いている。
自分のところの球根が増えたから、と言って姉から宅配便で届けてもらった立派な球根。今年で2回目の開花である。なぜこんなに正確に秋の彼岸を心得て開花するのだろう・・・今年、彼方の岸へ渡った人をその白さゆえに一層深く想う。
White spider lilies have been in full bloom in my garden. My third sister sent the bulbs saying increased bulbs almost occupied her garden. This is the second bloom here in my garden.
The plant is named "Higan bana" in Japan, meaning "the flowers of the other shore". Higan is a Buddhist holiday celebrated in Japan during both the Spring and Autumnal Equinox. It is a day to visit the family graveyard with flowers and offerings. Both red and rather rare white spider lilies seem to know the Autumnal Equinox day. Their blooming timing is always right. When we see them, we think of the close people who passed away and whether they waded across the River of Three Crossings to the other shore and into the peaceful afterlife of enlightenment. I feel that the white spider lilies say, "Yes. Sure they did."