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