Wishes On the Wind

At this time, we cheer
as we celebrate the harvest
We hang a wish
high upon a wishing tree

If the wind's strong enough
to collect your wish and take it
Tradition says that
the wish will come to be

Once again, I make a wish
to honor the memory of your mother

What's it say?

If you studied Japanese,
you would know.
For my daughter,
a husband
For my son -

Let me guess. Law school!

I would settle for respect!

This time of year always makes me think of Mama
She loved this day though her wishes were few
She was the heartbeat of every celebration

You know that sounds a lot like you

Then maybe wishes do come true

Wishes on the wind, drifting through the night
Connecting friends and family as they float away from sight

Wishes on the wind, our wishes that we share
Not only for ourselves but for the ones we love
who will always be there.

For my sister I wish
for a cottage by the ocean
a quiet place that's entirely her own

For my brother I wish
for great journeys and adventures
To see the world
till he finally misses home

I wish that I didn't have to play the good son
Waste years in school just so Papa think I'm smart

I wish that I didn't have to play the mother
though it would tear Papa apart

I've got to make a brand new start

Wishes on the wind, dreams that touch the sky
Our heads are bowed, our eyes are lifted
Wishes on the wind, and though they travel far
somehow someday they'll find a way
right back to us, right back to us

New dreams with new mysteries
Someday I'll unravel them
New roads with new histories
Someday I will travel them
I will travel them

(chanting in Japanese)

Wishes on the wind, dreams that touch the sky
Our heads are bowed, our eyes are lifted
Wishes on the wind, and though they travel far
somehow someday they'll find a way
right back to us, right back to us
right back to us, wherever we are