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.
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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.