Praiseworthy
this cyberworld
where we write and read words
freed from still notebooks
as embers that flare,
cool, scatter, fly
to places unknown
before bedding in eternity
:
©️2018 Ontheland
A blurb of gratitude on the occasion of American Thanksgiving. Lorine Niedecker wrote a short poem called “As Praiseworthy” which gave me the idea to use the word…(similarity ends there).
In response to Carpe Diem Weekend Meditation #26 Revise that Haiku
Taneda Santoka, known for ‘free verse haiku’, was part of an early-twentieth century trend in Japan that explored free-form haiku composed without traditions such as the 5-7-5 syllabic rule and the seasonal word. In his later years Santoka became a Zen Priest wandering many miles, often begging to survive. Santoka may have written this haiku on one his walking trips:
nonchalantly pissing
off the side of the road
soaking the young weeds
© Taneda Santoka (1882-1940)
I imagined a wandering nun. Her alternative haiku might be:
crouching
in bushes by the road
watering the crabgrass
©️2018 Ontheland
the summer moon
there are a lot of paper lanterns
on the street
© Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902)
Imagining the Hiroshima commemorative lantern event years after Shiki’s time, I have written a new version of his haiku:
path of lantern lights
memories of lost souls
under August moon
©️2018 Ontheland
When I am challenged to revise a haiku, my reading slows and I perceive several possible meanings….
in the moonlight,
the color and scent of the wisteria
seems far away
© Yosa Buson (1716-1784)
~
this pale winter night
fragrant colours of spring
seem so far away
©️2018 Ontheland
~
a mountain village
under the piled-up snow
the sound of water
© Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902)
~
a mountain village
under a fresh fall of snow
children’s laughter echoes
©️2018 Ontheland
Can I write a poem
grazing on
hummus-dipped
breadsticks,
stirring dull residues
of wounds and tears
that clog my spirit?
I could bounce away
but then,
would I not still feel empty?
Perhaps I will stay,
sip cold coffee,
and move my pen.
~
A poem of exactly 44 words (a ‘quadrille’) for dVerse Poets Pub using the word ‘bounce’. Perhaps not a bouncy take on bounce, but more writing will get me bouncing again.
©2018 Ontheland
You may have something to say—
water flowing generously
from the bucket you filled
by the river, or
you may choose a form,
easing in
one word
at a time
as if stepping
along a labyrinth path
snowflakes
meditating
a poem
~
©2018 Ontheland
Ontheland 