Hokusai Says: By Roger Keyes (inspired by Japanese artist)

Hokusai says
Look carefully.

He says pay attention, notice.
He says keep looking, stay curious.
He says there is no end to seeing.

He says look forward to getting old.
He says keep changing,
you just get more who you really are.
He says get stuck, accept it, repeat yourself
as long as it’s interesting.

He says keep doing what you love.

He says keep praying.
He says everyone of us is a child,
everyone of us is ancient,
everyone of us has a body.
He says everyone of us is frightened.
He says everyone of us has to live with fear.

He says everything is alive-
shells, buildings, people, fish, mountains, trees.
Wood is alive.
Water is alive.
Everything has it’s own life.
Everything lives inside us.
He says live with the world inside you.

He says it doesn’t matter if you draw, or
write books.
It doesn’t matter if you saw wood, or
catch fish.
It doesn’t matter if you sit at home
and stare at th wants on your verandah
or the shadows of the trees,
and grasses in your garden.
It doesn’t matter that you care.

It matters that you feel.

It matters that you notice.

It matters that life lives through you.
Contentment is life living through you.
Satisfaction and strength are
life living through you.
Peace is life living through you.

Don’t be afraid.
Look, feel, let life take you by the hand.

Let life live through you.