It was Christmas Eve—with a million and one things to do—including getting all that remained packed and ready for the big Christmas Day move—but there was that something—a sort of clarity—in the sky, and as we were stuffing boxes, I turned to the angel that was helping me, and said, “Let’s go climb Yatsuyama.”

The angel saw the clarity, too, and she agreed that climbing Yatsuyama was indeed a good idea. From Kiyomizu Park, it only takes 15 or 20 minutes to get to the top. (But yes, it is a mountain.)

I suppose we both knew that there so many things that needed to be seen.

The bamboo swaying in the breeze.

The susuki sparkling.

The persimmon branches resting—but ready.

Fuji-kun playing hide-and-seek.

The momiji.

The light . . .

. . . in the momiji.

The tower and branches, both reaching.

And somewhere up high on that tower—look again if you like—another soul, feeling the clarity, looking.