f/k/a archives . . . real opinions & real haiku

fireworks

I have

my moments

 

 

 

thickening fog

not a word

since the last exit

 

 

   Yu Chang from Upstate Dim Sum (2003/II)

 

 

 

before I pick up the nickel

a rain drop

on Jefferson’s head

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the load tied down —

her painted toe nails

on the dashboard

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

outside

in the dark

I let my imagination go

 

 

 

Tom Clausen from Upstate Dim Sum 

“the load tied down” (2003/II)

“before I pick up the nickel” & “outside” (2005/I)

 

 

• 
  
  by dagosan: 

breakfast alone

a cricket

in the kitchen

 

 

 

double-play:

baseball and fireworks

called on account of rain 

 

 

[July 2, 2005]

 

 

 Hey, George, the lid is still on the pot!

            “BigToeF

– please support ONE – The Campaign to Make Poverty History — and Live 8 – 

 

hut’s mosquitoes
this damned year, too
feasting

 

 

 

the pesky mosquito’s
birthplace…
temple flower

 

 

 

 

 

mosquito swarm–
even you
have a narrow home

 

 

thrown together–
thin mosquitoes, thin fleas
thin children

 

 

 

my home
where I even exhale
mosquitoes

 

 

 

 

a place
short on mosquito swarms…
sickle moon

 

 

wringing hands
in the mosquito netting…
let me have just a corner!

 

 

to the lullaby
of mosquitoes
she sleeps

 

 

 

even the horses
sleep in light green
mosquito nets!

 

 

 

today too
mosquito larvae and me
at sunset

 

 

 

living long
the flies, fleas, mosquitoes…
a poor village

 

 

leisure class–
“Mosquitoes have come!”
they say

 

 

even the mosquito hates
thin legs…
quickly moving on

–  all haiku by Kobayashi ISSA, translated by David G. Lanoue  

–  here’s a self-portrait by Issa, with accompanying haiku:

   original

 

Gimme that moon!

cries the crying

child

 – find more Issa haiku for ONE & Live 8 here –

                Live8

Issa, the classic haiku master of 19th Century Japan, has often

helped this weblog make points on very contemporary issues. 

 

  Tonight, I’m borrowing Issa’s words, as translated

by Prof. David G. Lanoue, in support of the important work of

ONE – The Campaign to Make Poverty History — and of Live 8. 

Your Editor just started his punditry-free vacation, so will merely

point you to the Technorati Live 8 page for more details.

 

 

hazy night–
people listening
to heavenly music

 

 

 

 

 

 

in my home village
they’re used to poverty…
maiden flowers

 

 

 

 

 

 

people call it
“empty belly” hunger…
morning lark

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the mushroom hunters
return empty-handed…
fussing

 

 

 

 

even the poor
workhorses of Edo sleep…
in mosquito nets!

 

 

morning time–
thin mosquito, thin flea
thin child

 

 

 

mosquito larvae
dance in memoriam…
the tomb’s puddle

from today on
may my medicine work!
welcoming the gods

 

 

 

“Issa self neg” – all haiku by Kobayashi ISSA,

translated by David G. Lanoue  

“hazy night” “in my home village” “people call it”

“the mushroom hunters” “from today on“

 

                                  Live8