Category Archives: Poetry
I pray thee, then
“When you see that beings have fallen, just as you have, into the ocean of existence and are stumbling, unable to walk in a safe direction, because the eye of wisdom– which distinguishes what to adopt and what to discard– for them is closed, is it not better to care for others and to strive …
Then I Walked Outside
Don’t Go Back to Sleep by Rumi For years, copying other people, I tried to know myself. From within, I couldn’t decide what to do. Unable to see, I heard my name being called. Then I walked outside. The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. Don’t go back to sleep. You must ask …
The Way
“If I knew the way, I would take you home.” ~Robert Hunter • “I know you’re tired, but come, this is the way.” ~Rumi
Speaks
yagate shinu keshiki wa miezu semi no koe Of its approaching death The cicada speaks Not a word ~Matsuo Bashō, translated by Hart Larrabee, from Haiku: Classic Japanese Short Poems © 2016 Does Bashō think the cicadas are frivolous, or does he admire their ability to live solely in the moment? We don’t know. Because …
Enough
The poem below was written by Kurt Vonnegut to memorialize his friend Joseph Heller: JOE HELLER by Kurt Vonnegut (via) True story, Word of Honor: Joseph Heller, an important and funny writer now dead, and I were at a party given by a billionaire on Shelter Island. I said, “Joe, how does it make you …
Blake, the much despised
Casey at the Bat Ernest Lawrence Thayer The outlook wasn’t brilliant for the Mudville nine that day: The score stood four to two, with but one inning more to play, And then when Cooney died at first, and Barrows did the same, A pall-like silence fell upon the patrons of the game. A straggling few …
18th Century Hippy
Too lazy Ryōkan Taigu from The Zen Poems of Ryokan, translation ©2014 Too lazy to be ambitious, I let the world take care of itself. Ten days’ worth of rice in my bag; a bundle of twigs by the fireplace. Why chatter about delusion and enlightenment? Listening to the night rain on my roof, I …
And now, for something completely different…
I’m re-reading I Wait for the Moon: 100 Haiku of Momoko Kuroda, ©2014 by Abigail Friedman. It does a wonderful job of placing the haiku in context and providing supporting details not generally known in the West. The commentary really makes the haiku come alive, making it much more rich and colorful. These two little …
I Hear It
The Lake Isle of Innisfree by William Butler Yeats I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree, And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made; Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honey bee, And live alone in the bee-loud glade. And I shall have some …
Paths
Many paths lead from The foot of the mountain, But at the peak We all gaze at the Single bright moon. ~Ikkyū (1394-1481)
Conscience and Remorse
Conscience and Remorse by Paul Laurence Dunbar “Good-bye,” I said to my conscience– “Good-bye for aye and aye,” And I put her hands off harshly, And turned my face away; And conscience smitten sorely Returned not from that day. But a time came when my spirit Grew weary of its pace; And I cried: “Come …
‘Neath the old apple tree
The Old Apple Tree by Paul Laurence Dunbar There’s a memory keeps a-runnin’ Through my weary head to-night, An’ I see a picture dancin’ In the fire-flames’ ruddy light; ‘Tis the picture of an orchard Wrapped in autumn’s purple haze, With the tender light about it That I loved in other days. An’ a-standin’ in …
