The verse

The autumn geese beat wings before they soar,reeds in their beaks, they cross and do not race.Scatter your grain along the traveller's road—in time some homeward wing returns the grace.

Reading

This lot bids you give before you gain. As the goose carries reeds to aid others, first scatter grain along the way; the sower asks of sowing, not of harvest. Offer first, and echo follows—yet its timing and measure rest with heaven.

The temple keeper adds

The middle path. No drama from the god today — only a road you can still walk.

[ Draw another at the temple ][ Keep a traffic omamori ]