Wednesday, August 29, 2012

an'ya & Al Fogel: Wednesday Haiku, #79




pink twilight
through each flamingo's legs
another flamingo

          an'ya






outdoor cafe--
birds and people
tweeting

          Al Fogel




Noh mask of Tenjin




plum blossoms--
singing Tenjin's sutra
a sparrow
Issa
translated by David G. Lanoue





best,
Don 
 
 

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Go to the LitRock web site for a list of all 133 songs

Friday, August 24, 2012

An Interview & Hemingway's Reading: 7-31-12

Asuka Buddha: Photo by PHG

 
 

I've been meaning to find the time to post this recent reading I participated in for this year's grand finale of the Hemingway's Summer Reading Series here in Pittsburgh. The 8-minute reading above includes 95% new material, so there is that. I had a bit of the willies since it was mostly untried material, but the audience was gracious (or napping) so all went well. Posting it here gives me a similar feeling (willies, not napping) but, well, there you go.  (alternate link for reading, if above is not working)
                                                                                                                                       
Hope something grabs you here.
                                                                                                           
What finally prompted this posting is an interview I did for Josh Medsker over at twenty-four hours that just went up yesterday. Some different questions, so check it out. And check out what else he is doing on the blog. He seems to get to poetry through the zine and small press scene; like life, the blog seems to be about so much more than poetry.

As it should be.






on the tip
of Buddha's nose...
a fart bug
Issa
translated by David G. Lanoue





best,
Don 

Send a single haiku for the Wednesday Haiku feature. Here's how.
Go to the LitRock web site for a list of all 133 songs

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Sasa Vazic and K. Ramesh: Wednesday Haiku Week #78

Woodcut by Yoshitoshi Taiso




let's cross the road
just two steps nearer
to the full moon
Sasa Vazic

Originally published 
in Mainichi Daily News, 2007




Goose or monk fish mouth, stereoscopic view by T. W. Smillee




boy's mouth open...
watching the fish
eat the puffed rice
K. Ramesh




Photo by Enoch Lau




on people
and on pufferfish
the same moon shines
Issa
translated by David G. Lanoue





best,
Don 

Send a single haiku for the Wednesday Haiku feature. Here's how.
 
Go to the LitRock web site for a list of all 133 songs

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Patrick Sweeney: Ten Haiku

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi - from 100 Aspects of the Moon



I've corresponded with, and published the work of, Patrick Sweeney for many years, going all the way back to issue #28 of Lilliput Review, which came out in February 1992. He is one of the poets I admire most working in the short form today, specifically haiku.

We went back and forth many months in the selection of the poems that follow. Serendipity entered into that selection: some unintended negligence on the part of the editor and an understandably natural reluctance on the part of the poet.

It seems to me that the balance of all these factors makes for a very fine set of poems, indeed. I'm going to abstain from my usual commentary and let the works speak for themselves, except to say, thank you, Patrick, very much.



My ecclesia
blue pine shadow
fused to snow






Infinite kalpas
of bone and flesh alleles
the dew drenched clover






Scent of burning leaves
the four chambers
of my heart






Half her face scorched
the Nagasaki Virgin
only stone






Sweet vernal grasses
what it has taken
to kneel





Shadows of mimosa
the Himalayan blue
probabilities of ×







Smithy of beaten stars
in the amalgams
of his haw-haw





House mosquito
blood-kin
to my only son







Lime tree
in the field
of one shoe






Green light on new snow
the short wavelength
of the divine




Photo by Norah Sweeney






cicada in the pine
listening to the sutra
is born
Issa
translated by David G. Lanoue






best,
Don 

Send a single haiku for the Wednesday Haiku feature. Here's how.
Go to the LitRock web site for a list of all 133 songs

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Aditya Bahl and Old Pajamas: Wednesday Haiku, #77


Photo by Hans Braxmeier




be humble..
only twigs with flowers
bow 

     Aditya Bahl




Woodcut by Toyonobu Ishigawa




gusting wind
in the beak of my hand
a persimmon branch
old pajamas





 Photo by Dario Sanches





my favorite cormorant
again floats up
with an empty beak
Issa
translated by David G. Lanoue






best,
Don
PS.Get 2 free issues. Get 2 more free issues



Send a single haiku for the Wednesday Haiku feature. Here's how.
Go to the LitRock web site for a list of all 133 songs