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That is, the rest, when the slowly paling mountain rim is tinged with red,

and wisps of faintly crimson purple cloud float in the sky.

In summer, the night.

Moonlit nights, of course, but also at the dark of the moon.

It's beautiful when fireflies are dancing everywhere in a mazy flight.

And it's delightful to see just one or two fly through the darkness glowing softly.

Rain falling on a summer night is also lovely.

In autumn, the evening, the blazing sun has sunk very close to the mountain rim, and now even the crows in threes and fours or twos and threes hurrying to their roost are a moving sight. Still more enchanting

is the sight of a string of wild geese in the distant sky, very tiny. And oh, how inexpressible,

when the sun has sunk to hear in the growing darkness the wind and the song of autumn insects.

In winter, the early morning, if snow is falling, of course, it's unutterably delightful.

But it's perfect, too, if there's a pure white frost, or even just when it's very cold,

and they hasten to build up the fires and the brazias and carry in fresh charcoal.

But it's unpleasant as the day draws on and the air grows warmer,

how the brazier fire dies down to white ash.

So that, ladies and gentlemen, is one of the most famous passages in all Japanese literature.

I would argue one of the most extraordinary passages in all Japanese literature. I would argue one of the most

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