By Shinsaku Ashida
Beneath the snow
lies a life
one prefers not to see.
Unwanted feelings—
numbed
by stronger sensations.
The wrongness is clear.
Clothing grows vivid,
loud in color,
but not fit
for the winter mountains.
Even when reaching
through snow,
the mountain’s surface
may still
remain untouched.
Still,
the mountain seen
since childhood
stands unchanged
tonight.
And when spring comes,
turning away
will no longer be possible.
Shinsaku Ashida is a Japanese poet whose work centers on themes of vulnerability, inner resilience, and the invisible architecture of human experience. His poetry has been published or awarded in over 120 newspapers, literary journals, and festivals. Through quiet, image-rich verse, he seeks to bring attention to the often-overlooked emotions and silences that shape our lives.
Academy of the Heart And Mind 