草木勝

Masaru Kusaki

I live in a housing complex built on the banks of the Kyokawa Bridge, the southernmost bridge over the Kamo River. The Kamo River, as it flows southward to this area, becomes a suburb, not quite a city, but not quite the countryside, either. The riverbed is covered with vegetation that has grown naturally, and wild animals such as foxes and weasels, which cannot be seen in the city, live quietly and protected in the few remaining natural habitats.. Looking at the housing complex where I live from a distance, it looks like a concrete box that is disproportionate to its natural surroundings and sits on the riverbank with reserve. When I follow the road from the bus stop to my house at the end of summer, the weeds on both sides of the road have grown taller than my house, and at dusk I feel as if I have returned from a long trip. The weeds are gradually squeezing the path from both sides by the life force of the plants, so the city will soon have a contractor trim the weeds. It should be more comfortable for pedestrians and cyclists, but every year at this time of year I wish it would stay that way for a while longer.