It’s August here in Shizuoka, which means that a hike up Ryuso Mountain can include a side jaunt out to see the Fox Razor Lilies. That expanse of orange mountainside is about 45 minutes from either Hozumi Shrine or the top of Ryuso.

On August 5th, my hike went something like this: 45 minutes from the riverside parking lot to Hozumi Shrine, 40 minutes to the top of Ryuso, 40 minutes along the ridge trail to the fox razor lilies, 45 minutes back to Hozumi Shrine, and 40 minutes back down to the riverside parking lot.

A fellow walker. Bumped into him between the top of Ryuso and the lilies. Poor guy had a bum hind leg.

The lilies prove that sometimes the human eye is better than a camera. It’s hard to take a good picture of lots of small things over a large area–but the human eye can feel the beauty very easily.

The birds converse. The leafy branches and the sun converse. The roots and microbes converse. Spiders converse with the silky strands of their webs. And what a beautiful language it is. For it cannot be induced to present a lie. Yes, that’s why the Wise Ones come back again and again. There is no lying here. No lying and no liars.

When a Sissy Climbs a Mountain in May.

It’s often said that human beings’ exceptional language ability is what makes them the superior creature, but that so-called language ability also seems the source of a lot of anxiety. People feel the need to represent themselves and their ideas, but often find it hard to find the exact words that best fit what they need to say. Even if they think they’ve “nailed” the words, they know that others may misunderstand. People know that their ability–their desire–to frame all sorts of piercing questions can make others uncomfortable. People use words to judge, sometimes to judge harshly, but their words don’t always correspond to any particular reality–in essence, they become fiction–and yet they can still hurt. And of course, with a “skillful” use of words, people can flat out lie.

In all, the communication “ability” of human beings seems, at best, a fickle friend.

But out on a mountain trail, human beings seem to be strongly influenced by the birds and the trees and the sky–the non-liars. I’d be surprised if you hadn’t experienced the feeling. You’re out with a friend on the trail and you somehow feel more in tune with what you feel must be true–and you feel more compelled to have your words stick to the truth.

No, it’s not a perfect science, but the “noise” of human society has quieted and the natural flow of things seems more obvious. It’s easier to be honest.

Walking back toward the shrine from the lilies, the view clears a couple of times. It’s one of the best non-Alpine views in the area, I think.

Mt. Fuji’s out there, too.

And so is that sweet, dear girl, chabohotogisu. How she pulls at our heart strings! (For more on her, visit Cha-bo-ho-to-to-gi-su | Persimmon Dreams (persimmon-dreams.com) ).

(from Persimmon Dreams: When you’ve got a spare moment, check out our music/nature videos on our “Persimmon Dreams” YouTube channel, or Steve’s books, When a Sissy Climbs a Mountain in May and Along the Same Street, available on Amazon, or directly from us. And if you enjoyed this post, consider sharing with others. Thank you!)