October 27, 2008
faint stars
the cabby speaks
of home
One of my more obscure hobbies is writing English language haiku and a related form called "haibun" that combines poetry and prose writing. For a definitions and explanations of these forms, see http://www.hsa-haiku.org/archives/HSA_Definitions_2004.html. Without getting overly complicated, let's just say a true contemporary haiku isn't the rigid 5-7-5 syllable poem you learned about in grade school. Hopefully examples like the following offer a flavor of for the simplicity and elegance of these forms, which seek to stay true to the spirit of the original Japanese haiku and haibun popularized by poets such as Matsuo Basho.
#1
Hundreds of pinwheels spin in the autumn wind, each one next to a small statue of Jizo, who watches over the souls of stillborns, miscarriages, and aborted fetuses. The images stand in long rows: three deep, one row higher than the next; each with a large, round head, closed eyes and pursed lips, tiny hands with fingers extended, palms pushed together in prayer. Some are bare stone, but most are decorated, commonly with a pinwheel, a knit cap, and a bib. Many have caps bright red yarn; on others, only a few gray tatters remain. I stop to contemplate an older Jizo, its features worn almost entirely away by wind and rain. Someone has tied a new bib around its neck.
Hundreds of pinwheels spin in the autumn wind, each one next to a small statue of Jizo, who watches over the souls of stillborns, miscarriages, and aborted fetuses. The images stand in long rows: three deep, one row higher than the next; each with a large, round head, closed eyes and pursed lips, tiny hands with fingers extended, palms pushed together in prayer. Some are bare stone, but most are decorated, commonly with a pinwheel, a knit cap, and a bib. Many have caps bright red yarn; on others, only a few gray tatters remain. I stop to contemplate an older Jizo, its features worn almost entirely away by wind and rain. Someone has tied a new bib around its neck.
At one end of the line of statues stands a large bulletin board of sorts, on which hang many wooden tablets. Each bears a hand-written message. I read a few in English: "Little baby: We are so sorry we could not keep you. Please forgive us." "Dear one: We will always love you."
temple bell--
a wisp of smoke curls upward
from the incense stick
from the incense stick
#2
Thousands have leaped to their deaths from the Golden Gate Bridge. One man, who survived, tells his story: "I told myself that if someone--anyone--bothered to talk to me, to see if I was okay, I wouldn't jump." Near the middle of the span, a woman stops him and asks, "Would you mind taking my picture?" He takes her picture. She says, "thanks," and leaves. Then he jumps.
lone gull . . .
the cold sting
of the steel rail
lone gull . . .
the cold sting
of the steel rail
And a few of my most successful haiku:
faint stars
the cabby speaks
of home
40th birthday
the leaves just beginning
to change color
the leaves just beginning
to change color
another soldier . . .
the sound of wind
through a hole in the fence
the sound of wind
through a hole in the fence
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