Smile After Cry

Because it has lived its life intensely
The parched grass still attracts the gaze of passers-by
The flowers merely lower,
And they do this as well as they can.
The water lily, blooming unseen in the valley,
Does not need to explain itself to anyone;
It lives merely for beauty.
However, can not accept that ‘merely’

If tomatoes wanted to be melons,
They would look completely ridiculous.
I am always amazed
That so many people are concerned
With wanting to be what they are not
What’s the point of making yourself look ridiculous?

You don’t always have to pretend to be strong,
There’s no need to prove all the time that everything is going well,
You shouldn’t be concerned about what other people are thinking
Cry if you need to,
It’s good to cry out all your tears
Because only then will you be able to smile again
(Matsuo Aida)