Willow is green, flower is red
Yanagi wa Midori Hana wa Kurenai

One of the most profound statements in the Buddhist tradition is, "Things are not what they seem, nor are they otherwise." Or sometimes they say, "thusness" or "as-it-isness". Willow is green--thusness. Flower is red--as-it-isness. If that is all, it may be too simple. Green willow is not what it seems. Yet, after all, green willow is nothing but just green willow.
 

During the eleventh century in China, there was a distinguished poet called Sotoba, who said, "The willow is green, flower is red; they are the true masters of themselves," and he added, "The simplicity is the breathtaking reality." In order to see true greenness, true redness, we must experience a spiritual transformation; that is to say, we must pass through the denial period of willow is not willow, red is not red. Then we can truly appreciate the shining greenness of willow, the sparkling redness of flower.

A modern Japanese haiku poet, Santoka (1882 - 1940), wrote, "Westerners like to conquer mountains; Orientals like to contemplate them. As for me, I like to taste the mountains."

By Kogetsu Roshi und Eido Roshi