One More...

that I utterly identify with...again from the same " The Penguin Book of Japanese Verse"
----
POEMS OF SOLITARY DELIGHTS by Tachibana Akemi

What a delight it is-
when on the bamboo matting
In my grass-thatched hut,
All on my own,
I make myself at ease.

What a delight it is-
When, borrowing
rare writings from a friend,
I open out
the first sheet.

What a delight it is-
When, spreading paper,
I take my brush
And find my hand
Better than I thought.

What a delight it is-
When, After a hundred days
of racking my brains,
that verse that wouldn't come
suddenly turns out well.

What a delight it is-
When of a morning,
I get up and go out
To find in full bloom a flower
that yesterday was not there.

What a delight it is-
When skimming through the pages
of a book, I discover
A man written of there
Who is just like me.

What a delight it is-
When everyone admits
Its a very difficult book,
and I understand it
with no trouble at all.

What a delight it is-
When I blow away the ash,
to watch the crimson
of the glowing fire
and hear the water boil.

What a delight it is-
When a guest you cannot stand
Arrives, then says to you,
"I'm afraid I can't stay long"
And soon goes home.

What a delight it is-
When I find a good brush,
steep it hard in water,
Lick it on my tongue
And give it its first try.