Nor is it clear
to me, as people are born and die, where they are coming from and where they
are going. Nor why, being so ephemeral
in this world, they take such pains to make their houses pleasing to the
eye. The master and the dwelling are
competing in their transience. Both will
perish from this world like the morning glory that blooms in the morning dew. In some cases, the dew may evaporate first,
while the flower remains--but only to be withered by the morning sun. In others the flower may wither even before
the dew is gone, but no one expects the dew to last until evening.-- KAMO NO
CHOMEI
