From a mile away
those pink and fuchsia blouses
on a cloudy day.
From a mile away
those pink and fuchsia blouses
on a cloudy day.
Watching the sun rise
over Dog Hill I feel dizzy
by the turning earth.
Blues before sunrise
Here comes the sun
Alone again, naturally
Star Chamber
Sun Ra
Temple Of the Golden Pavilion
House of the Rising Sun
The thick purple veins
blossom forth from the orchid
Into the daylight.
A fly flew into my martini
It died instantaneously
It was a happy death.
Blue ribbons fluttering
Birds chirping in the trees
A girl walks briskly by.
Sitting in the street
in front of the coffeehouse
My arms turn to good flesh.
The Bamboo planted
on the bank of the river
calms my restless soul.
621 West Main Street, Louisville, Kentucky
Behind the facade of the false front is the emptiness of the blue sky…
A lightening flash
on a darkened dash
a drop of dew on a blade of grass.
According to Jane Hirshfield, in the “Art of Haiku,” a Haiku is a poem composed of 17 syllables or sound bites containing vivid imagery. The traditional Haiku poem should evoke a particular season, although western Haiku writers don’t always follow this proscription.
The original meaning of the Japanese word Haiku, according to Hirshfield, is “Playful verse.” The celebrated Japanese poet, Basho, raised Haiku to new levels of significance by adding a spiritual and emotional dimension.
Basho wasn’t too strict about the form. He advised that you can have an extra syllable or two as long as the poem sounded right. If the sound was off, then a re-write was in order. He also said it was important to see the world with new eyes and to write down the present moment.
Three Haikus
Here are three Haikus that I wrote that I would like to share with you.
The monk stumbles from
The Black Mountain Demon’s Cave
To find the world one bright pearl.
The sound of the dragon
Singing in the withered tree
Comes to my ear.
The empty boat returns
From its long Journey abroad
Full of moonlight.