Along the Road - Saigyō

This waka (poem) "Along the Road" was created by Saigyō (1118 - 1190), a Japanese wandering monk-poet and former samurai. The haiku picture shows Saigyō in the Hyakunin Isshu (百人一首).

Here is the waka poem:

Title: Along the Road	Poet: Saigyō
English translation	Japanese
Along the road a pure stream flows in the shade of a willow. Wanting to rest I paused - and have not left.	michi no be ni shimi zu nagaruru yanagi kage shibashi to te koso tachidomaritsure

Poem from article: Haiga : Takebe Sōchō and the Haiku-painting tradition

Now, how beautiful is that?

I have felt this way many times while hiking shaded paths alongside mountain streams, through old-growth forests where only filtered sunshine occasionally streamed down between the trees.  Suddenly the trail emerges from the forest into bright sunshine at a small clearing by a stream. 

During my recent hike along the Upper Dungenous River, that clearing had a perfect resting spot near the edge of the forest, but still in the sunshine by the river.  Arriving,  I dropped my backpack to the ground and, using it as a pillow, rested with the feeling I would never choose to leave.

Have you had this kind of moment before - the one Saigyō so elegantly describes? 
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