1
Dust
seeks entry into
a crystal sphere
2
a memory --
moonlight falling
on the sun
3
Head on a pillow
of withered flowers
she dreams of jade
4
hanging from a cloud
the tower practices
non-attachment
5
In the Forbidden City
a jade pepper
no one has tasted
6
In late winter
marigold skeletons
are beige
7
In the river
the women's feet
looking for jade
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Invisible Castle (VII): 10 Haiku
1
Invisible castle
I'm looking everywhere
for my eyeballs
2
Invisible castle
If the mist new where it was
it would hide it
3
Invisible castle
tears waiting patiently
to be cried
4
At the invisible castle
a convention
of mermaids
5
Tarot cards
are square dancing
at the invisible castle
6
At the invisible castle
a performance of
"The Eyebrow Ballet"
7
For the invisible castle
Marcel Proust
writes a lengthy haiku
8
At the invisible castle
foreclosure is
a daily occurrence
9
Stored in the invisible castle
a vast supply
of monogrammed towells
10
At the invisible castle
a crystal dragon
guards irrational numbers
Invisible castle
I'm looking everywhere
for my eyeballs
2
Invisible castle
If the mist new where it was
it would hide it
3
Invisible castle
tears waiting patiently
to be cried
4
At the invisible castle
a convention
of mermaids
5
Tarot cards
are square dancing
at the invisible castle
6
At the invisible castle
a performance of
"The Eyebrow Ballet"
7
For the invisible castle
Marcel Proust
writes a lengthy haiku
8
At the invisible castle
foreclosure is
a daily occurrence
9
Stored in the invisible castle
a vast supply
of monogrammed towells
10
At the invisible castle
a crystal dragon
guards irrational numbers
Lightnings and Rainbows: 6 Haiku
1
Trapped in the flaws
of a crystal tower
lightnings and rainbows
2
John Sandbach's roost is
a bed
with 10,000 curtains
3
Close to my ear
a star whispered
"distance is nothing"
4
Rotting balcony please receive
this gentle pressure
of moonlight
5
She's lost her memory
she's found a rock --
creek at dusk
6
From the hand's
alchemical spring flows
nectar and roses
Trapped in the flaws
of a crystal tower
lightnings and rainbows
2
John Sandbach's roost is
a bed
with 10,000 curtains
3
Close to my ear
a star whispered
"distance is nothing"
4
Rotting balcony please receive
this gentle pressure
of moonlight
5
She's lost her memory
she's found a rock --
creek at dusk
6
From the hand's
alchemical spring flows
nectar and roses
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Dust and Balloons: 17 Haiku
1
In soft clay
a knife
opens a mouth
2
A yellow tree
startles
like spilled blood
3
After many centuries
photos of the Great Pyramid
appear
4
for the bored
a small sky
of ordinary blue
5
Polish the floor
remove the roof
walk on clouds
6
blue by day
to give us time
to digest our starlight
7
Vast blue
a magnifying glass
won't help you see a plane
8
Where the sea
is one inch deep
that's where I like to voyage
9
Gigantic clouds passing --
the dinosaur's thoughts
are clear and simple
10
Kansas --
the rectangular lands
of long ago
11
To conquer the maze
golden light
rubbed into the feet
12
Everywhere
swirls of glitter -- the universe
is very pretty
13
Plans for tomorrow's clouds
must be submitted
no later than midnight
14
Dust
and balloons
heal the battlefield
15
Fat and juicy
a slug blessed
by the moon
16
Snow, lightning
stars, and clouds --
the diet of white dragons
17
mist, mold, fire, and wind --
the paper tower
dreams of death
In soft clay
a knife
opens a mouth
2
A yellow tree
startles
like spilled blood
3
After many centuries
photos of the Great Pyramid
appear
4
for the bored
a small sky
of ordinary blue
5
Polish the floor
remove the roof
walk on clouds
6
blue by day
to give us time
to digest our starlight
7
Vast blue
a magnifying glass
won't help you see a plane
8
Where the sea
is one inch deep
that's where I like to voyage
9
Gigantic clouds passing --
the dinosaur's thoughts
are clear and simple
10
Kansas --
the rectangular lands
of long ago
11
To conquer the maze
golden light
rubbed into the feet
12
Everywhere
swirls of glitter -- the universe
is very pretty
13
Plans for tomorrow's clouds
must be submitted
no later than midnight
14
Dust
and balloons
heal the battlefield
15
Fat and juicy
a slug blessed
by the moon
16
Snow, lightning
stars, and clouds --
the diet of white dragons
17
mist, mold, fire, and wind --
the paper tower
dreams of death
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Cloud and Boulder: 5 Haiku
1
With no "excuse me"
a cloud
interrupts the sun
2
Stolen
from the mountain
12 black pillars
3
Morning voices
and particles of dust
freely mingling
4
Long ago
by the gentle sea
there dwelled a labyrinth
5
Child
of cloud and boulder
hippopotamus
With no "excuse me"
a cloud
interrupts the sun
2
Stolen
from the mountain
12 black pillars
3
Morning voices
and particles of dust
freely mingling
4
Long ago
by the gentle sea
there dwelled a labyrinth
5
Child
of cloud and boulder
hippopotamus
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Admiring the Dust: 6 Haiku
1
Is it the moon?
the withered white face
watching the rain
2
in the garden
an old Chinese Poet
oh no, just a possum
3
secretly
a mountain
admiring the dust
4
Into a breeze
stamens of day lily
rearing up
5
For a Buddha
newly emerging
a withered pomegranate
6
Poets of Japan
please accept as a gift
this ancient soap bubble
Is it the moon?
the withered white face
watching the rain
2
in the garden
an old Chinese Poet
oh no, just a possum
3
secretly
a mountain
admiring the dust
4
Into a breeze
stamens of day lily
rearing up
5
For a Buddha
newly emerging
a withered pomegranate
6
Poets of Japan
please accept as a gift
this ancient soap bubble
My haiku from "Ginyu"
"Ginyu" is an international haiku magazine published in Tokyo and edited by Ban'ya Natsuishi. He was my original inspiration for breaking away from tradition and exploring the vast realm of free haiku. His encouragement has been a major support for me as a writer. You may visit the "Ginyu" website online at http://www.geocities.jp/ginyu_haiku/.
These first four are from "Ginyu" No. 39 (July 20, 2008, Ginyu Press, Japan):
1
In Antarctica
we sail to the island
of poison fumes
2
Each
in their own darkness
worms and stars
3
Iceberg
rising and falling
tsunami passes
4
Mayan Princess
to save the children
she turns into a lawyer
The next four haiku are from "Ginyu" No. 18 (April 20, 2003, Ginyu Press, Japan):
5
Nightmare --
dragonflies sit
in perfect rows
6
between each step
bottoms of the feet
exposed to light
7
on the moon
how peaceful
the absence of waterfalls
8
My birthplace --
on a hill
a gray tower smolders
The next six haiku are from "Ginyu" No. 10 (March 20, 2001, Ginyu Press, Japan)
9
amulet found on X-ray
she sleeps still unwrapped
10
winter so old
there is even dust
on the moon
11
oil slick rainbows
in the street light
of dinosaur blood
12
the clouds no one ever sees
the dinosaurs love them best
(This and the next two haiku also appeared in my book "Step Into Sky."
13
falling asleep
I see them
caves on the moon
14
afternoon moon
dry sponge
thirsting in the Blue Desert
15
Colors
of gardens long dead
travel toward the stars
16
What can
a little bat tell me
at evening by the sea?
17
In the invisible castle
tapestries
woven of starlight
18
With mist and mirrors
trying to locate
the invisible castle
19
Fairies
never speak
of the invisible castle
20
So frail and tattered
thousand year old cloud
21
By the time I returned
from peeing
the cloud had died
(This haiku is from my book, "Wrinkled Sea.")
22
In Utah they watch
a ten-ton rock
poised on a ledge
These first four are from "Ginyu" No. 39 (July 20, 2008, Ginyu Press, Japan):
1
In Antarctica
we sail to the island
of poison fumes
2
Each
in their own darkness
worms and stars
3
Iceberg
rising and falling
tsunami passes
4
Mayan Princess
to save the children
she turns into a lawyer
The next four haiku are from "Ginyu" No. 18 (April 20, 2003, Ginyu Press, Japan):
5
Nightmare --
dragonflies sit
in perfect rows
6
between each step
bottoms of the feet
exposed to light
7
on the moon
how peaceful
the absence of waterfalls
8
My birthplace --
on a hill
a gray tower smolders
The next six haiku are from "Ginyu" No. 10 (March 20, 2001, Ginyu Press, Japan)
9
amulet found on X-ray
she sleeps still unwrapped
10
winter so old
there is even dust
on the moon
11
oil slick rainbows
in the street light
of dinosaur blood
12
the clouds no one ever sees
the dinosaurs love them best
(This and the next two haiku also appeared in my book "Step Into Sky."
13
falling asleep
I see them
caves on the moon
14
afternoon moon
dry sponge
thirsting in the Blue Desert
15
Colors
of gardens long dead
travel toward the stars
16
What can
a little bat tell me
at evening by the sea?
17
In the invisible castle
tapestries
woven of starlight
18
With mist and mirrors
trying to locate
the invisible castle
19
Fairies
never speak
of the invisible castle
20
So frail and tattered
thousand year old cloud
21
By the time I returned
from peeing
the cloud had died
(This haiku is from my book, "Wrinkled Sea.")
22
In Utah they watch
a ten-ton rock
poised on a ledge
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Foot in Darkness: 9 Haiku
1
Snuggling
under a blanket
the mountain and I
2
Lawn service
cannot kill
a magic violet
3
Don't learn those --
you have your own names
for stars
4
In the dust
under my bed
a lost blindfold
5
Hard pears
piled in a bowl --
the chilly wind
6
A single hair
keeps the sky
from being bald
7
Nobody notices --
my one foot
always walking in darkness
8
A torso --
stump of the neck
rough and sparkly
9
Two galaxies
colliding, making
a faraway mess.
Snuggling
under a blanket
the mountain and I
2
Lawn service
cannot kill
a magic violet
3
Don't learn those --
you have your own names
for stars
4
In the dust
under my bed
a lost blindfold
5
Hard pears
piled in a bowl --
the chilly wind
6
A single hair
keeps the sky
from being bald
7
Nobody notices --
my one foot
always walking in darkness
8
A torso --
stump of the neck
rough and sparkly
9
Two galaxies
colliding, making
a faraway mess.
Iridescent Nerve: 17 Haiku
1
Through a parallel universe
flashes
an iridescent nerve
2
A nest of pillows --
in darkness
the royal traveller
3
In the road
I'm squatting
observing a plastic lizard
4
Found
a red tail
how do I attach it?
5
Where her head
broke off --
a necklace of glue
6
In the sacred vestibule
the All Fetuses
tombstone
7
Green glitter Mary
looking down --
the well of sacred dirt
8
Shrine of the sacred dirt --
Jesus' head
in a cage of thorns
9
Where we lit her candle
wooden Jesus hanging
with no legs
10
No longer
learning Sanskrit --
he eats dandelions
11
Climbing, climbing
inside the tornado
a black spiral stair
12
No wind
the trees shake their leaves
anyway
13
Alzheimers --
a mind grows
whiter and whiter
14
The hills are burning
In my palm a knot
carved of stone
15
Clouds --
the waters die and die
wandering heaven
16
Most people
look the other way
clouds having sex
17
In bare trees
squirrels' nests --
I wander into the ground
Through a parallel universe
flashes
an iridescent nerve
2
A nest of pillows --
in darkness
the royal traveller
3
In the road
I'm squatting
observing a plastic lizard
4
Found
a red tail
how do I attach it?
5
Where her head
broke off --
a necklace of glue
6
In the sacred vestibule
the All Fetuses
tombstone
7
Green glitter Mary
looking down --
the well of sacred dirt
8
Shrine of the sacred dirt --
Jesus' head
in a cage of thorns
9
Where we lit her candle
wooden Jesus hanging
with no legs
10
No longer
learning Sanskrit --
he eats dandelions
11
Climbing, climbing
inside the tornado
a black spiral stair
12
No wind
the trees shake their leaves
anyway
13
Alzheimers --
a mind grows
whiter and whiter
14
The hills are burning
In my palm a knot
carved of stone
15
Clouds --
the waters die and die
wandering heaven
16
Most people
look the other way
clouds having sex
17
In bare trees
squirrels' nests --
I wander into the ground
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Deflating Moon: 10 Haiku
1
With my catcher's mitt
all night in the back yard
wating for meteors
2
My brain
missing
I decide to tell no one
3
In the clouds
an orifice
I can't tell which one
4
I build a jellyfish
out of bricks
(clear ones, of course)
5
No more coal
so I shovel diamonds
into the furnace
6
My bones
become transparent
why does no one notice?
7
Taj Mahal asbestos siding on the back
8
For social convenience
my tentacles and feelers
invisible
9
a hissing
above the trees --
the moon deflating
10
washed up on the beach
I'll wait for awhile
then grow arms and legs
With my catcher's mitt
all night in the back yard
wating for meteors
2
My brain
missing
I decide to tell no one
3
In the clouds
an orifice
I can't tell which one
4
I build a jellyfish
out of bricks
(clear ones, of course)
5
No more coal
so I shovel diamonds
into the furnace
6
My bones
become transparent
why does no one notice?
7
Taj Mahal asbestos siding on the back
8
For social convenience
my tentacles and feelers
invisible
9
a hissing
above the trees --
the moon deflating
10
washed up on the beach
I'll wait for awhile
then grow arms and legs
Family Star: 9 Haiku
1
In Arkansas
tomb
of the undiscovered crystal
2
A rose in the sky --
the fragrance
of old words
3
On Grand Mesa
a black lake called
the book of skies
4
That star
has belonged to my family
for 10,000 years
5
in the alley
an old Pharaoh
guardian of the trash
6
for a brief history
of Egypt, press "one"
on your audiophone
7
a midday beggar
waiting
for the sky
8
The Virgin's medal --
sun on the front
sweat on the back
In Arkansas
tomb
of the undiscovered crystal
2
A rose in the sky --
the fragrance
of old words
3
On Grand Mesa
a black lake called
the book of skies
4
That star
has belonged to my family
for 10,000 years
5
in the alley
an old Pharaoh
guardian of the trash
6
for a brief history
of Egypt, press "one"
on your audiophone
7
a midday beggar
waiting
for the sky
8
The Virgin's medal --
sun on the front
sweat on the back
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Writing Haiku (1)
In each haiku I'm seeking a continual balance between the definite and the mysterious. A haiku which is too definite is uninteresting -- too obvious -- and often carries a feeling of being over-explained. But a haiku which is too mysterious -- too inexplicable -- can frustrate the reader, can feel too hidden.
Who is to say, though, when a haiku veers too far either way? I might see a particular haiku one way at one time, and then a day, a week or a year later, another way. And, of course, you might see the same haiku in a much different way. All I can do is publish what I like, and hope you too will enjoy it. Its very much like running a restaurant -- be the best cook you can, and hope that whoever you serve enjoys the fare.
If you don't like subjectivity, then I would suggest that you not write haiku. I have learned to love subjectivity more and more, have learned to relax into it.
One of my favorite poets, Barbara Guest, has said the same thing that the musical composer Rameau said (and I paraphrase): "learn the rules, think about them, use them, but in the end, go with what feels right, even if it flies in the face of all the rules."
I must admit to you, though, that if I'm going to veer one way or the other I most definitely like to steer toward the mysterious. I'd rather be confused than bored.
Today I wrote this haiku:
inviting the wind
an alchemist's
fabled curtain
I am happy with this. It started this way: the photograher Joel Witkin has a photograph in which there is a very large curtain -- about the size of a theater curtain. It's white, and in front of it stands a nude woman, among many other curious and interesting artifacts and details. But the one thing you can't do with a haiku is stuff it full of stuff. I knew I wanted this haiku to be just about me feelings about that curtain.
Is the curtain just a backdrop? Or does it conceal something? I knew I wanted the word "curtain" in the haiku, but what then? A white curtain? Is knowing the color really necessary for feeling the essence of the curtain? In the photograph the curtain doesn't look particularly clean, and white tends to always imply clean.
And how to describe the size. Size words seem difficult to me -- "immense," "great," "gigantic," -- they're not specific and in many contexts can end up sounding an upoetic note.
For awhile I entertained "high curtain." It's vague. Does it mean that the curtain is tall, or high in the air, meaning off the ground? I like that ambiguity. Then I realized I wanted to see what was behind the curtain. I couldn't lift it -- I didn't feel like I wantedc to be in the haiku, but the wind could. Yes, the wind had to be in the haiku. Then it occurred to me that the wind wouldn't come on its own -- it had to be invited.
And what about the fact that the curtain was in an artist's studio? I couldn't just use the word "artist" to describe Joel Witkin. The word "artist" has, unfortunately, become too prosaic. Witkin's work is extremely cosmic, terrifying even, transformative, transmutative. In my mind, Joel Witkin is an alchemist. And that's what I shall call him!
The last thing to fall into place was the word "fabled." We might think that a curtain would be in a theater and would open to enact a fable for us. Witkin's photographs feel to me like fables. What fable would it be? Who knows? The curtain remains closed. The curtain is the fable! The fabled curtain! And there it was, the pieces of the haiku falling into place.
When I read the finished haiku I had qualms at first. Is it too simple, too mysterious? Without even asking him I was sure that the Japanese haiku poet Ban'ya Natsuishi would say "no!" So trusting his imagined judgement, there it hangs, the alchemist's fabled curtain -- waiting for the wind!
Who is to say, though, when a haiku veers too far either way? I might see a particular haiku one way at one time, and then a day, a week or a year later, another way. And, of course, you might see the same haiku in a much different way. All I can do is publish what I like, and hope you too will enjoy it. Its very much like running a restaurant -- be the best cook you can, and hope that whoever you serve enjoys the fare.
If you don't like subjectivity, then I would suggest that you not write haiku. I have learned to love subjectivity more and more, have learned to relax into it.
One of my favorite poets, Barbara Guest, has said the same thing that the musical composer Rameau said (and I paraphrase): "learn the rules, think about them, use them, but in the end, go with what feels right, even if it flies in the face of all the rules."
I must admit to you, though, that if I'm going to veer one way or the other I most definitely like to steer toward the mysterious. I'd rather be confused than bored.
Today I wrote this haiku:
inviting the wind
an alchemist's
fabled curtain
I am happy with this. It started this way: the photograher Joel Witkin has a photograph in which there is a very large curtain -- about the size of a theater curtain. It's white, and in front of it stands a nude woman, among many other curious and interesting artifacts and details. But the one thing you can't do with a haiku is stuff it full of stuff. I knew I wanted this haiku to be just about me feelings about that curtain.
Is the curtain just a backdrop? Or does it conceal something? I knew I wanted the word "curtain" in the haiku, but what then? A white curtain? Is knowing the color really necessary for feeling the essence of the curtain? In the photograph the curtain doesn't look particularly clean, and white tends to always imply clean.
And how to describe the size. Size words seem difficult to me -- "immense," "great," "gigantic," -- they're not specific and in many contexts can end up sounding an upoetic note.
For awhile I entertained "high curtain." It's vague. Does it mean that the curtain is tall, or high in the air, meaning off the ground? I like that ambiguity. Then I realized I wanted to see what was behind the curtain. I couldn't lift it -- I didn't feel like I wantedc to be in the haiku, but the wind could. Yes, the wind had to be in the haiku. Then it occurred to me that the wind wouldn't come on its own -- it had to be invited.
And what about the fact that the curtain was in an artist's studio? I couldn't just use the word "artist" to describe Joel Witkin. The word "artist" has, unfortunately, become too prosaic. Witkin's work is extremely cosmic, terrifying even, transformative, transmutative. In my mind, Joel Witkin is an alchemist. And that's what I shall call him!
The last thing to fall into place was the word "fabled." We might think that a curtain would be in a theater and would open to enact a fable for us. Witkin's photographs feel to me like fables. What fable would it be? Who knows? The curtain remains closed. The curtain is the fable! The fabled curtain! And there it was, the pieces of the haiku falling into place.
When I read the finished haiku I had qualms at first. Is it too simple, too mysterious? Without even asking him I was sure that the Japanese haiku poet Ban'ya Natsuishi would say "no!" So trusting his imagined judgement, there it hangs, the alchemist's fabled curtain -- waiting for the wind!
Invisible Castle (VI): 5 Haiku
1
The invisible castle
receives a new coat
of uncertainty
2
Everyone
gazing at the sky
above the invisible castle
3
A formless sky --
the invisible castle
sympathizes
4
The invisible castle
every day
new forgeries appearing
5
Concealed in the opal's
inner sanctum --
invisible castle
The invisible castle
receives a new coat
of uncertainty
2
Everyone
gazing at the sky
above the invisible castle
3
A formless sky --
the invisible castle
sympathizes
4
The invisible castle
every day
new forgeries appearing
5
Concealed in the opal's
inner sanctum --
invisible castle
Ancient Emerald Lily: 10 Haiku
1
Like dew falling
the kindness
of starlight
2
A hole in smoke
inhales
the sky's bottomless blue
3
Inviting the wind
an alchemist's
fabled curtain
4
In winter
hemmrhoids are trolls
hiding in a cave
5
The alchemist travels --
in his satchel
soil, light, and blood
6
A woodpecker
sewn into
my mantra's fabric
7
Blank sky --
the possibility of perfection
seems real
8
through arctic sunlight
passes
the country of tiny fish
9
A washing machine and birds
a song of inner and outer
in almost spring
10
In winter
from the ancient emerald lily
steam ascends
Like dew falling
the kindness
of starlight
2
A hole in smoke
inhales
the sky's bottomless blue
3
Inviting the wind
an alchemist's
fabled curtain
4
In winter
hemmrhoids are trolls
hiding in a cave
5
The alchemist travels --
in his satchel
soil, light, and blood
6
A woodpecker
sewn into
my mantra's fabric
7
Blank sky --
the possibility of perfection
seems real
8
through arctic sunlight
passes
the country of tiny fish
9
A washing machine and birds
a song of inner and outer
in almost spring
10
In winter
from the ancient emerald lily
steam ascends
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Invisible Castle (V): 7 Haiku
1
A space alien
tries to fly
the invisible castle
2
Invisible castle
all cobwebs
are welcome
3
Invisible castle
ghosts prefer
more substantial haunts
4
Invisible castle
what
do I feed it?
5
Castle invisible
sometimes, though
a vague smile appears
6
Invisible castle
the revellers
are mimes
7
Hidden
in the invisible castle
the invisible castle
A space alien
tries to fly
the invisible castle
2
Invisible castle
all cobwebs
are welcome
3
Invisible castle
ghosts prefer
more substantial haunts
4
Invisible castle
what
do I feed it?
5
Castle invisible
sometimes, though
a vague smile appears
6
Invisible castle
the revellers
are mimes
7
Hidden
in the invisible castle
the invisible castle
Black Scorpion: 8 Haiku
1
A star goes out
who should I report it to?
2
Vapor
from the hospital power plant
spirits of the dead
3
A funny color
the moon
must be going bad
4
Somewhere
in a landfill
grandma's blue plastic roses
5
Wedding reception
for Barbie and Ken
Temple of the Black Scorpion
6
After the moon has set
sound of footsteps
coming from the ocean
7
I'm bored
the sky makes a special effort
to be interesting
8
Digging tunnels
somewhat slow
but a safe way to travel
A star goes out
who should I report it to?
2
Vapor
from the hospital power plant
spirits of the dead
3
A funny color
the moon
must be going bad
4
Somewhere
in a landfill
grandma's blue plastic roses
5
Wedding reception
for Barbie and Ken
Temple of the Black Scorpion
6
After the moon has set
sound of footsteps
coming from the ocean
7
I'm bored
the sky makes a special effort
to be interesting
8
Digging tunnels
somewhat slow
but a safe way to travel
Chipped From a Cave: 15 haiku
1
Leaves, sun, shadows --
outside the window
they are very confusing
2
The water falls
the reflections don't
3
Summer night --
from afar
the coolness of dead stars
4
After the storm
a business man struck down
by a rainbow
5
White styrofoam
even more beautiful
in the mist
6
With one sweep
of a lasar
the pastries destroyed
7
What are those stars
dangling
between Orion's legs?
8
Wearing cloud makeup
the moon
appears a little younger
9
To gaze at the stars
a fish
floats on its side
10
My mouth disappeared
now haiku come out
wherever they can
11
Huge gray cloud maximum security prison for ghosts
12
"I must go," said the water and evaporated
13
Following my own droppings through the jungle
14
Carrying a lotus
between two fingers --
they chipped her from a cave
15
Carefully the alchemist places the elixir in the microwave
Leaves, sun, shadows --
outside the window
they are very confusing
2
The water falls
the reflections don't
3
Summer night --
from afar
the coolness of dead stars
4
After the storm
a business man struck down
by a rainbow
5
White styrofoam
even more beautiful
in the mist
6
With one sweep
of a lasar
the pastries destroyed
7
What are those stars
dangling
between Orion's legs?
8
Wearing cloud makeup
the moon
appears a little younger
9
To gaze at the stars
a fish
floats on its side
10
My mouth disappeared
now haiku come out
wherever they can
11
Huge gray cloud maximum security prison for ghosts
12
"I must go," said the water and evaporated
13
Following my own droppings through the jungle
14
Carrying a lotus
between two fingers --
they chipped her from a cave
15
Carefully the alchemist places the elixir in the microwave
Invisible Castle (IV): 12 Haiku
1
At the invisible castle
Salvador Dali
doing laundry
2
At the invisible castle
Pablo Picasso
conducts a food fight
3
With his ears
Ray Charles
sees the invisible castle
4
At the invisible castle
the Middle Ages
for a moment
5
At the invisible castle
a throne
of smoke
6
Gertrude Stein
can't say "invisible castle"
just once
7
For the invisible castle
Claude Monet
invents shadows
8
Invisible castle --
the magician eats water
and drinks stone
9
No windows
the invisible castle
is a window
10
entombed
in the invisible castle
she was fine the next day
11
Paint
is afraid
of the invisible castle
12
Global warming --
the invisible castle
sighs
At the invisible castle
Salvador Dali
doing laundry
2
At the invisible castle
Pablo Picasso
conducts a food fight
3
With his ears
Ray Charles
sees the invisible castle
4
At the invisible castle
the Middle Ages
for a moment
5
At the invisible castle
a throne
of smoke
6
Gertrude Stein
can't say "invisible castle"
just once
7
For the invisible castle
Claude Monet
invents shadows
8
Invisible castle --
the magician eats water
and drinks stone
9
No windows
the invisible castle
is a window
10
entombed
in the invisible castle
she was fine the next day
11
Paint
is afraid
of the invisible castle
12
Global warming --
the invisible castle
sighs
Dinosaur Skin: 4 Haiku
1
Dinosaurs
the freshness
of early salads
2
Polishing stone
I found dinosaur skin
and moonlight
3
I ascend the Sun's
favorite burial mound --
sea of wind
4
Circling
an immense stone hole
the wind and I
Dinosaurs
the freshness
of early salads
2
Polishing stone
I found dinosaur skin
and moonlight
3
I ascend the Sun's
favorite burial mound --
sea of wind
4
Circling
an immense stone hole
the wind and I
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
White Shadows: 5 Haiku
1
Sniff them!
the names
of imaginary perfumes!
2
The alchemist's tools:
a lump of coal, a friendly snake,
and Africa
3
Needing to see itself
the Sun
invents eyes
4
My home town --
an attic in the sky
where magic is hidden
5
At the end of the alley
white shadows
piled in the sky
Sniff them!
the names
of imaginary perfumes!
2
The alchemist's tools:
a lump of coal, a friendly snake,
and Africa
3
Needing to see itself
the Sun
invents eyes
4
My home town --
an attic in the sky
where magic is hidden
5
At the end of the alley
white shadows
piled in the sky
Invisible Castle (III): 12 Haiku
1
Invisible castle
drenched in a torrent
of explanation
2
surrounding
the invisible castle
a desert of diamonds
3
Invisible castle
the diplomatic laison
is a unicorn
4
Invisible castle
everyone there
hears different music
5
Invisible castle
enjoys a vacation
on the moon
6
Tourists
can't remember
the invisible castle
7
Invisible castle
enemy forces
bombard it with words
8
An earthquake
tickles
the invisible castle
9
Invisible castle
wandering
through history
10
A blank page
explains
the invisible castle
11
Invisible castle
towed to Neptune
for a tune-up
12
Invisible castle
the closer you come
the farther it is
Invisible castle
drenched in a torrent
of explanation
2
surrounding
the invisible castle
a desert of diamonds
3
Invisible castle
the diplomatic laison
is a unicorn
4
Invisible castle
everyone there
hears different music
5
Invisible castle
enjoys a vacation
on the moon
6
Tourists
can't remember
the invisible castle
7
Invisible castle
enemy forces
bombard it with words
8
An earthquake
tickles
the invisible castle
9
Invisible castle
wandering
through history
10
A blank page
explains
the invisible castle
11
Invisible castle
towed to Neptune
for a tune-up
12
Invisible castle
the closer you come
the farther it is
Invisible Castle (II): 20 Haiku
1
The invisible castle
only invisible
when looked at
2
A turret
of the invisible castle
goes wandering
3
imprisoned
in the invisible castle
she doesn't even know it
4
At the invisible castle
a convention
on Quantum Mechanics
5
From the invisible castle
astronomers observe
parallel universes
6
In the invisible castle
Shelly sleeps
for several eons
7
An army of poets
toiling to build
the invisible castle
8
Invisible castle
over and over
its name is lost
9
Invisible castle
memories reduced
to a fine powder
10
Countless times
gypsies
have sold the invisible castle
11
At the invisible castle
Gaugin discovers
mysterious colors
12
In the invisible castle
candles
burn upside down
13
After every war
the invisible castle
repairs itself
14
Invisible castle
they're still counting
the rooms
15
A jellyfish
mistaken for
the invisible castle
16
In the invisible castle
a feast
of air
17
In the invisible castle
an ancient maiden
made of dust
18
After countless millenia
a rainbow finally finds
the invisible castle
19
Hidden
in the invisible castle
a sercet map of the heart
20
In the invisible castle
each whisper
echoes forever
The invisible castle
only invisible
when looked at
2
A turret
of the invisible castle
goes wandering
3
imprisoned
in the invisible castle
she doesn't even know it
4
At the invisible castle
a convention
on Quantum Mechanics
5
From the invisible castle
astronomers observe
parallel universes
6
In the invisible castle
Shelly sleeps
for several eons
7
An army of poets
toiling to build
the invisible castle
8
Invisible castle
over and over
its name is lost
9
Invisible castle
memories reduced
to a fine powder
10
Countless times
gypsies
have sold the invisible castle
11
At the invisible castle
Gaugin discovers
mysterious colors
12
In the invisible castle
candles
burn upside down
13
After every war
the invisible castle
repairs itself
14
Invisible castle
they're still counting
the rooms
15
A jellyfish
mistaken for
the invisible castle
16
In the invisible castle
a feast
of air
17
In the invisible castle
an ancient maiden
made of dust
18
After countless millenia
a rainbow finally finds
the invisible castle
19
Hidden
in the invisible castle
a sercet map of the heart
20
In the invisible castle
each whisper
echoes forever
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Review of "Step into Sky"
If you would like to read a review of my haiku book "Step Into Sky" you can go to http://happano.org/pages/chapbook/StepReview-E.html. The review is from the Magazine Aneta Nepo, and the supportive words of the reviewer were very important to me at a time when I was testing my haiku wings.
"Step Into Sky" was written in 2001 and contains 100 of my earliest published haiku. In the introduction to it the famous Japanese haiku poet Ban'ya Natsuishi writes, "I imagine Sandbach to be a haijin (haiku poet) who lives in a cosmic world of poetry, and who calls the moon to the dry wash scattered with sand in the middle of North America so that he may talk with her."
Banya, you continue to help me to enter ever more deeply into that cosmic world. Thank you for the gift of your spirit.
To read some of Ban'ya Natsuishi's wonderful haiku you may go to a review of his book "A Future Waterfall" at http://www.millikin.edu/haiku/courses/globalSpring2006/RyneInmanOnBanyaNatsuishi.html
You can also go to http://www.modernhaiku.org/bookreviews/Natsuishi2006.html for another review of one of Natsuishi's books and more of his poetry.
"Step Into Sky" was written in 2001 and contains 100 of my earliest published haiku. In the introduction to it the famous Japanese haiku poet Ban'ya Natsuishi writes, "I imagine Sandbach to be a haijin (haiku poet) who lives in a cosmic world of poetry, and who calls the moon to the dry wash scattered with sand in the middle of North America so that he may talk with her."
Banya, you continue to help me to enter ever more deeply into that cosmic world. Thank you for the gift of your spirit.
To read some of Ban'ya Natsuishi's wonderful haiku you may go to a review of his book "A Future Waterfall" at http://www.millikin.edu/haiku/courses/globalSpring2006/RyneInmanOnBanyaNatsuishi.html
You can also go to http://www.modernhaiku.org/bookreviews/Natsuishi2006.html for another review of one of Natsuishi's books and more of his poetry.
Shadow Journeying: 7 Haiku
1
A cloud and I
gradually
disappearing
2
Strange but true
every cloud
carefully planned
3
rays of stars
straight and as long
as they need to be
4
Inner darkness
also filled
with stars
5
Ancient moon
a shadow journeying
ocean of mist
6
Cobwebs, and lo!
my tiny winds
revealled!
7
A black tree
10,000 thorns
the sky impervious
A cloud and I
gradually
disappearing
2
Strange but true
every cloud
carefully planned
3
rays of stars
straight and as long
as they need to be
4
Inner darkness
also filled
with stars
5
Ancient moon
a shadow journeying
ocean of mist
6
Cobwebs, and lo!
my tiny winds
revealled!
7
A black tree
10,000 thorns
the sky impervious
Sip of Yellow: 5 Haiku
1
A snail travels
my tongue
stays at home
2
Flowing
through the museum
a river of eyeballs
3
Bring a sack lunch
we'll have a food fight
in the museum
4
Like an ancient curse
a hemorrhoid
is appeased
5
Roaming
under gray clouds -- I'm thirsting
for a sip of yellow!
A snail travels
my tongue
stays at home
2
Flowing
through the museum
a river of eyeballs
3
Bring a sack lunch
we'll have a food fight
in the museum
4
Like an ancient curse
a hemorrhoid
is appeased
5
Roaming
under gray clouds -- I'm thirsting
for a sip of yellow!
History of Light: 6 Haiku
1
At night
bored with the dark
poems walk in dreams
2
colors
of gardens long dead
travelling toward the stars
3
strange
but true -- every cloud
carefully planned
4
rays of starlight
straight and as long
as they need to be
5
stars
the history of light
arriving from everywhere
6
The magician
black from breathing
outer space
At night
bored with the dark
poems walk in dreams
2
colors
of gardens long dead
travelling toward the stars
3
strange
but true -- every cloud
carefully planned
4
rays of starlight
straight and as long
as they need to be
5
stars
the history of light
arriving from everywhere
6
The magician
black from breathing
outer space
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Imagined Face: 9 Haiku
1
Living in the past
that's why I can't
see myself in the mirror
2
morning hair
product of
demonic stylists
3
until the frog jumped
I didn't see
the fishnet hose
4
a man next door coughs
a man upstairs hums
no one lives in the basement
5
Desert twilight
I use the great pyramid
to scratch my back
6
Blowing square bubbles
its all in how
you hold your mouth
7
In a mirror
the vampire admires
an imagined face
8
my dryer broken
I throw laundry
into the tornado
9
A styrofoam replica
of Stonehenge
blows away
Living in the past
that's why I can't
see myself in the mirror
2
morning hair
product of
demonic stylists
3
until the frog jumped
I didn't see
the fishnet hose
4
a man next door coughs
a man upstairs hums
no one lives in the basement
5
Desert twilight
I use the great pyramid
to scratch my back
6
Blowing square bubbles
its all in how
you hold your mouth
7
In a mirror
the vampire admires
an imagined face
8
my dryer broken
I throw laundry
into the tornado
9
A styrofoam replica
of Stonehenge
blows away
Famous Cloud: 9 Haiku
1
Dandelions
back and ready
for more abuse
2
at the medical center
a woman with gray skin
browsing the doughnuts
3
opening a book
comes a vast darkness
4
my journey home slows
the last three steps
a thousand years
5
A close race
which of my feet
will win?
6
Old spring
gray-haired dandelions
have forgotten something
7
The nuisance
of testicles
a long muggy season
8
Soaring
without letting go
a bird uproots a tree
9
In an office building
people made of smoke
keep busy
10
On infinite blue
floating
I'm a famous cloud of the past!
Dandelions
back and ready
for more abuse
2
at the medical center
a woman with gray skin
browsing the doughnuts
3
opening a book
comes a vast darkness
4
my journey home slows
the last three steps
a thousand years
5
A close race
which of my feet
will win?
6
Old spring
gray-haired dandelions
have forgotten something
7
The nuisance
of testicles
a long muggy season
8
Soaring
without letting go
a bird uproots a tree
9
In an office building
people made of smoke
keep busy
10
On infinite blue
floating
I'm a famous cloud of the past!
Secret Chamber: 9 Haiku
1
In my mouth
the dentist discovers
a secret chamber
2
On the bank
I wait
for the river to pass
3
Earthquake --
which words
go back in which book
4
tendonitis
from reading
the ponderous novel
5
mountain gets all the attention wind too big to care
6
river
never noticed
the city had died
7
at the bottom of the sea
meteors!
more everyday!
8
in the vast sky
above Quiktrip
no buying, no selling
9
my grave robbed
receiving
re-entombment counseling
In my mouth
the dentist discovers
a secret chamber
2
On the bank
I wait
for the river to pass
3
Earthquake --
which words
go back in which book
4
tendonitis
from reading
the ponderous novel
5
mountain gets all the attention wind too big to care
6
river
never noticed
the city had died
7
at the bottom of the sea
meteors!
more everyday!
8
in the vast sky
above Quiktrip
no buying, no selling
9
my grave robbed
receiving
re-entombment counseling
Turning to Stone: 10 Haiku
1
For centuries
once a week
massaging the mummies
2
There in the mirror
my forhead rented
for advertising
3
No other way
to keep shadows off the floor
I burn down the house
4
To discover
his song, I journey
into the dragon's ear
5
Caught
in the crystal tower
birdes, rainbows, and snowstorms
6
Practicing body language
a man
with no head
7
the whole flame
is a sex organ
8
I massage
the stones. They seem
tense
9
Lake
how many clouds
has it been
10
Waking at night --
having turned to stone
I go back to sleep
For centuries
once a week
massaging the mummies
2
There in the mirror
my forhead rented
for advertising
3
No other way
to keep shadows off the floor
I burn down the house
4
To discover
his song, I journey
into the dragon's ear
5
Caught
in the crystal tower
birdes, rainbows, and snowstorms
6
Practicing body language
a man
with no head
7
the whole flame
is a sex organ
8
I massage
the stones. They seem
tense
9
Lake
how many clouds
has it been
10
Waking at night --
having turned to stone
I go back to sleep
Bird Hospital: 8 Haiku
1
Wading upstream
I'm searching for
the waters' past
2
A bruise
from my depths
a shadow rises
3
In front of me
endless night, behind me
the museum
4
chasing birds into my mouth I fall down my throat
5
In my tomb
for a thousand years
I think of turning over
6
Turning
into a tree
does he need to fill out forms?
7
Spring night --
on the potter's wheel
a vase collapss
8
Bird hospital --
in the night
a candle fluttering
Wading upstream
I'm searching for
the waters' past
2
A bruise
from my depths
a shadow rises
3
In front of me
endless night, behind me
the museum
4
chasing birds into my mouth I fall down my throat
5
In my tomb
for a thousand years
I think of turning over
6
Turning
into a tree
does he need to fill out forms?
7
Spring night --
on the potter's wheel
a vase collapss
8
Bird hospital --
in the night
a candle fluttering
Room Full of Fireflies: 8 Haiku
1
In a steaming pool
deep inside the mountain
I sit, laughing
2
for a thousand years
at the burning door
waiting for ashes
3
At noon
on the mountain's summit
a shadow's birth
4
Its work finished
a garden wall
stays where it is
5
Turquoise Trail
people everywhere
buying the sky
6
all day
smoke from the burning forests
giving shade
7
Just before dying
a room full of smoke
a room full of fireflies
8
A shimmering mountain
no more real
than myself
In a steaming pool
deep inside the mountain
I sit, laughing
2
for a thousand years
at the burning door
waiting for ashes
3
At noon
on the mountain's summit
a shadow's birth
4
Its work finished
a garden wall
stays where it is
5
Turquoise Trail
people everywhere
buying the sky
6
all day
smoke from the burning forests
giving shade
7
Just before dying
a room full of smoke
a room full of fireflies
8
A shimmering mountain
no more real
than myself
Invisible Castle (I): 14 Haiku
1
At twilight
I enter
the invisible castle
2
In the invisible castle
tapestries
woven of starlight
3
roads
are still looking for
the invisible castle
4
Invisible castle
I thought I saw it
in a snowstorm
5
Shadows
applying for jobs at
the invisible castle
6
On a map
a blind man feels
the invisible castle
7
Invisible castle
its moat
is the sky
8
Invisible castle
is its mortar
moonlight?
9
Invisible castle
its history
is also invisible
10
With mist and mirrors
trying to locate
the invisible castle
11
Fairies
never speak of
the invisible castle
12
Invisible castle
what licked my hand?
a gargoyle?
13
Secretly
in ruins
the invisible castle
14
Invisible castle
to protect it
they painted it gray
At twilight
I enter
the invisible castle
2
In the invisible castle
tapestries
woven of starlight
3
roads
are still looking for
the invisible castle
4
Invisible castle
I thought I saw it
in a snowstorm
5
Shadows
applying for jobs at
the invisible castle
6
On a map
a blind man feels
the invisible castle
7
Invisible castle
its moat
is the sky
8
Invisible castle
is its mortar
moonlight?
9
Invisible castle
its history
is also invisible
10
With mist and mirrors
trying to locate
the invisible castle
11
Fairies
never speak of
the invisible castle
12
Invisible castle
what licked my hand?
a gargoyle?
13
Secretly
in ruins
the invisible castle
14
Invisible castle
to protect it
they painted it gray
Chest Full of Starlight: 7 Haiku
1
In a tiny mirror
the Great Pyramid
Quivering
2
My favorite
mechanical device:
a chest full of starlight
3
In the desert
why is that grain of sand
out of place?
4
At the end of the alley
white shadows
piled in the sky
5
What can
a little bat tell me
at evening, by the sea?
6
At night
bored with the dark
poems walk in dreams
7
Colors
of gardens long dead
travelling toward the stars
In a tiny mirror
the Great Pyramid
Quivering
2
My favorite
mechanical device:
a chest full of starlight
3
In the desert
why is that grain of sand
out of place?
4
At the end of the alley
white shadows
piled in the sky
5
What can
a little bat tell me
at evening, by the sea?
6
At night
bored with the dark
poems walk in dreams
7
Colors
of gardens long dead
travelling toward the stars
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