The voice is wind with

intonations of meaning.

The exhale of thought.

Equinox Harvest Moon Haiku

Thursday, September 23, 2010

1:25 - 2:45 am Written on screen, in this order, with few changes. 7 haikus read as one continuous poem. Something new.

3 hours post Autumnal Equinox

11:09 pm, Wed. Sept.22, 2010

3 hours pre Full Harvest Moon

5:15 am Thurs. Sept 23, 2010

First time for all 3 in one night since 1991

Not again until 2029

Reflected daylight;

Brightness in balance with night.

Equinox full Moon.

Summer’s cooling air

Becomes autumn’s waking breath.

Countless silent changes.

As we tally time,

Ten thousand seconds are lost.

Yet nothing is gained.

Such things we ponder:

Infinite time, deep space and

The Moon’s face laughing.

Jupiter drips from

Mare Tranquillitatis.

Both horizon bound.

Silently drifting

Through the patient midnight sky,

The Moon plays with time.

Fall is here once more,

An old friend with new wrinkles.

Let us drink some tea.

High Khu

In the spring and summer of 2009, my wife and I travelled, lived, explored, learned and played our way through the SE Asian countries of Nepal, Singapore, Thailand, China and Japan.

Our first 2 months were in Nepal. Among the many, many amazing and profound experinces we shared was an 18 day trek through the Himalayan Khumbu Valley to Mount Everest Base Camp (elev. 5300m). Along the trail, there were great views of prayer flags and mountains , mani stones and local Nepali people, trekkers, guides and porters, climbers and memorials to climbers lost, glaciers and Yaks.

These Haiku poems are some of the distilled images, emotions and thoughts inspired by my time in this most elevating environment.

A note about the title of the poem group:
Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry consisting of only 3 lines of text.

The first line has 5 syllables,
the second line has 7 syllables
and the third and final line has 5 syllables.

The last line often resolves a developed concept, image or musing, dramatically and with thought-provoking, and emotional acuity. The challenge of composing a poem within a 17 syllable structure helps distill the essence of the poem.

The play on Hiaku - "High Khu", refers to "High" elevation and "Khu"mbu Valley, within which we travelled.
_________________________________________________

High Khu

Walking the Ohm trail:
Step, breath, gravel, breath, climb, breath, OH!
Such mountain beauty!

This close to the sky,
Even the mountains look up,
Listening to time.

The Sky, Blue and Blue.
And between swirling cloud art,
The Sky, Blue and Blue.

In this crystal air,
Everything is seen clearly,
Often with out eyes.

The Khumbu Valley,
where Himalayan winds blow.
A photo flutters.

In cool, clear thin air,
Blue, White, Red, Green and Yellow
Prayer flags are dancing.

A flap of prayer flags.
Five colours and one photo
Watch the mountains move.

A clanging Yak bell,
Mantra for meditation.
On walking. On Life.

how long is now?

our today grasps
for anchor
in the shifting
now
reaching, searching
for reference

from memories
the present is further
distilled
clarified
perspective illuminating the
now
and beyond

cradled between
both directions of the infinite

how long is now?

Eye of Insight

An Eye,
Window of Insight,
Opening to ourselves, others, beyond.
Within.

This life,
This being,
has awareness, memories, family, friends.
Questions.

It asks of Us . . .

It asks of You . . .

Rhythm Water

Silent, now. A Peace.
Dawn brings dew, night tears on grass.
Even the leaves weep.

From within shone Light,
Bright as lake reflected Sun,
Illuminating Us all.

From the Four Corners,
What You shared, now returns to
Guide those who remain.

This simple motion,
Paddling through rhythm water:
Life, Life, Life, Life, Life.

Light into Night

At the setting of the Sun,

At the end of the Day,

At the setting of a Life,

At the end of the Play,

The darkness that deepens,

Brightens the Stars above,

The saddness that dwells,

Is softened by Love.