[ARTS]: Big and Little Poetry--free verse, any verse.

[Tai Shi]

I stand in awe of contemporary poets like and as WS Merwin and William Stafford. I wrote to Stafford while writing in my MFA workshops. He was a Kansas poet, an man like me. He wrote back that I should keep writing because my poetry held great promise. I am an Iowa poet, a South Dakota poet. I had enclosed a five poem portfolio of recent poetry I had written Stafford, he wrote back as he encouraged many young poets. I was 37. WS Merwin was one of the greatest poets of the 20th century writing into the 21st century up until his death in 2018 (?). He received many national awards including for Migration which won the National Book Award around 2001, (correct me with the dates.) He is considered a Buddhist poet. His poetry not only includes many poems which predict a dangerous time for humanity, but many optimistic poems. Like Stafford, he does see hope for humanity though a dire future. Perhaps we can pull ourselves out of this bag. He purchased 20 acres of desolate land in Hawaii and restored it. Then he planted this area with many endangered "palm species." Look at my optimistic poetry. I mean to keep writing until my death. I am 72, and was never expected to live this long. I have been writing since I was 15, ah but I have thrown away many good poems, and I have a good portfolio of poems from workshops and publications before I had tried to write seriously in 2008. I received my MFA creative writing/poetry in 1990 from Colorado State University with 3.9 GPA, at that time I had published about 60 poems in little magazines and small publications including The Connecticut Review, and The Sierra Journal. Thanks to great friends like Kyosui and other people here at Treeleaf I am alive. Many great people including an anonymous man who saved my life in 1976. I know this time because of the Bicentennial of the US. That fall after a horrific spring, I took the Psychology course at a community college which propelled me into the changes that saved my life again. Never give up. I discovered Suzuki Roshi then. I was 24-years-old. I own a first edition of Zen Mind, Beginner Mind and of Be Here Now by Ram Das because of that Psychology course. Indeed, it was a different time. Never give up hope.

Gassho
Tai Shi

[Onkai]

Tai Shi, I missed that the pronoun was masculine. So much has changed since the 1950's and '60's! Thank you for your sensitivity to that.

Gassho, Onkai
Sat lah

[Tai Shi]

Onkai, you have to forgive Stafford because he’s not just referring to boys but girls too. He was a child of the 50s and 60s. He was poet Laureate of the US Library of Congress and won many national awards. His most famous poem is Traveling Through the Dark.


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[Onkai]

The link didn't work, but the quote resonated with me. I don't write poetry now, but it's true for fiction and journaling as well. Thank you, Tai Shi.

Gassho, Onkai
Sat lah

[Tai Shi]

Stafford's "A Way of Writing"
California State University, Dominguez Hills


A Way of Writing. by William Stafford. A writer is not so much someone who has something to say as he is someone who has found a process that will bring about ...
People also ask
What does Stafford say about writing?
A writer is not so much someone who has something to say as he is someone who has found a process that will bring about new things he would not have thought of if he had not started to say them.

Famous deceased Poet William Stafford won many national awards, and was the Poet Laurette of the US during his life. This is not a lengthy term of responsibility.

[Onkai]

Gassho, Onkai
Sat lah

[Tai Shi]

Sea Ice Melting

Being, becoming, swimming with sight,
I linger in salt, I linger in caves
Of withering fear, I am seventy-two,
Right into waves of my mind,

I retreat, some wisdom of sharks
Of fishes that swim into sea waves,
Slipping through one's own common hunt,
My difficult nature returns.

My wings above blue sea remind me
Of other beings. Birds I could devour--flocks
Disappear into rain of clouded sky. My only
Desire to think, I'm extinct. My thoughts hidden,

Dropping to only oceans, I strike without
Thinking, being my nature, neglected as
Small, I am taught by my friends, lunging
I miss, without being,

Wonder of food, is my essence aggressive?
Capturing everything, I need prey. Knowing
I was born to swim in circles as I hunt
For everything, I'm without defiance,

Not enemy to food, my kindness capturing,
Stealth, deceiving being instinct, part
Of My invisible coalition. Sharks by nature
Next floating with humans on board, where

Do I strike into flesh, these creatures
Floating with intent, defenceless make
My leather-like clothing as hard as skin, tasteless,
Bite,at their boat floating into difficult water.

One of these creatures avoiding sharks,
Avoiding even waves of destruction. I know
How to stealthily destroy their kind,
Predator, not in wonder, mindfulness avoided,

In danger, apart from my nature, bread
Into element deep, something destructive
I cannot keep space--what would I witness
Other than fishes. I lunge to capture.

How could I leering sink like another
Entering sadness, sea creatures, pleasant
Anomaly, beautiful, I'm lunging
Swallowing, slither toward voids, bigger prey,

Wondering what made me this incarnation?
Part of my predatory being, may I change,
This felt desire? if this is my wisdom, giving
Some hope, some realization.

My peace from endless attack none seeing
My desire to angle my foes from my leather
Where there are wallets, shoes, gloves as I strike?
Wonder as born, neglected as wild, simple

As brain sought to destroy. Gang of younger
Thieves, stalking, I consider deep into nest
Of deception, like mouth of sword closing
On creatures, sad sharks sink into deep water.

Let me change meditation in still water. Vast
Is sea wave, covering my childhood.
I was in damaged by wilderness, parents,
Karma of previous life making my-- Deception is done.

Gassho
Tai Shi
Sat/ deep bows/ lah

[Jundo]

You poetry is lovely, TS.

Don't feel you must stop.

Gassho, J

stlah

[Tai Shi]

Have at it, and I will be not as conspicuous as Poet on Treeleaf except for cheering on your own poetry. Try to make these pages for more formal poetry. There is another place to experiment. Free verse is expectable. Experiment in the Free Verse, Any Verse, section and Kokuu has a place for Haiku. I will be here but only to cheer you on and with the occasional more formal poem. Poems with rhyme and meter belong here, and more formal verses. Do not sacrafice meaning at the expense of just making regular poem, not my place to criticise, so as I said, my presence will be less obvious.
Gassho
sat/lah

[Tai Shi]

I am stepping back from writing poetry on the threads. I need to give you space to write. Indeed, the threads were never meant to be the showcase for my poetry; that, they have become, nor that I ever I established them just for me. Please try your hand at poetry. Even simplest poetry can succeed. Not just my poems but always your poetry. I will limit myself; two a week or maybe the only poems not quitting , or maybe just something about a recognized published poet. Now I will not publish my own poetry as much as you might, I hope to stand back a little, so pleases make your poems. Be kind to yourselves. There are lots of reasons to publish poetry here. As always they remain only your poetry. You automatically own copyright with your name on the poem. This is a place to experiment and if you have trouble with typing, dictate and be vocal, or have someone copy the poem into the space. For those of you who don't know, you must scroll down to the end of the page to write, or insert a poem.. Do not be afraid to try your hand, (hands), here, and take flight with the joy of writing. Experiment here. I tell you that anywhere is here, keeping in mind decorum, your poetry is your poetry in these places for our Forum. You cannot make a mistake. Poetry in the marked places is always read, and only positive encouragement, please.
Gassho
Tai Shi

[Tai Shi]

My Buddhist Confusion

Kami, deva, shinto, dukkha
Kamakura, tendai guardians
Zen emerged very early,
Shakyamuni Buddha
Eight hundred years Soto Zen
In Japan Koso Dogen Zenji
Kaizen Zenji, Taisan Zenji,
Paleolithic, Neolithic,
Zen not much like now.
Sitting Bull made to dance
At his slaughter, one man
Think this great chief
Of his people. Teapot Dome
Scandal, where was US
To breath in 1920?
There was oil in Wyoming
Albert Fall, petroleum rights
Hundreds of Thousands of dollars
Bribe money under Harding
Wyoming rights, gone sour.
What was this to Conservatives
In the roaring 20s, to Great
Depression, Hoover social
Engineer, ordinary Lay people
Of Jodo Shinshu, ordinary
Forty temples in America,
Railroad workers ordinary
Buddha to Hawaii sixty temples,
Buddhism even Suzuki the other
Nationalist, gone into Southern
California, Doctrine of aggression
Where does love San Francisco
Shiro Suzuki, Little Suzuki
Big Suzuki took doctrine
Loving Kindness, sitting
Meditation, after the Great
War Samurai, Matsudaira,
Tokugawa ieyasu, Suzuki Shosan
Age 42 to become, Rensai,
Zen, Mish mash From China
To San Francisco, Beats spread
Popular Culture 1976 Big
Little, When beginning
This spread to those seeking
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
Lectures, not cohesion.
When great master
Laid down died in Peace
Beside this water.
Zen was there many
Temples throughout landed
Poets, Artists, ordinary Lay
People, Zen was always
As Bosho of Lay members
Morality, Who practiced
Precepts, not Clergy.
Clergy present not
In San Francisco but thorough
Out Land, ever present.
Not just where popular
Culture existed, zazen.
In 2022, 100 years Soto
Zen in America,
1922, now looking back
Two Temples, Kyoji Namu Shakyamuni
Butsu, Buddha, Okyo,
our chant, Find in Buddha
Hanyo Shingo, Shushoji,
Rev Iso Sobe, 1922
Zenshuji Mission Los Angeles
First Zen in North America
Dispatching Priests from training
Day and Night zazen,



Gassho
Tai Shi

[Kokuu]

This poem was to include Latin American influences that seldom rise to be written in any Poetry, the work geared to those Indigenous People of California, anf Latin America who contributed to my little town of Ojai, California where I spent the first 6 years of my life, and where I found a great beginning, and the rest moves through Glacial History of several areas, including Ojai. When one returned to this town, it no longer defamed others because of two brave men Krishnamoorthi, and Thich Nhat Hanh, there being reference to His Holiness the 14th Dali Lama from Tibet, and though Krishnamoorthi is not exility mentioned, his presence is a given as he lived and preached his doctrine of peace. These three men represent new vistas of Loving Kindness, and the Buddha,

[Tai Shi]

This poem was to include Latin American influences that seldom rise to be written in any Poetry, the work geared to those Indigenous People of California, anf Latin America who contributed to my little town of Ojai, California where I spent the first 6 years of my life, and where I found a great beginning, and the rest moves through Glacial History of several areas, including Ojai. When one returned to this town, it no longer defamed others because of two brave men Krishnamoorthi, and Thich Nhat Hanh, there being reference to His Holiness the 14th Dali Lama from Tibet, and though Krishnamoorthi is not exility mentioned, his presence is a given as he lived and preached his doctrine of peace. These three men represent new vistas of Loving Kindness, and the Buddha,

[Tai Shi]

Mourn for Mountain Bells, my Home Town
Ojai, California, for Thich Nhat Hanh
Saga of New and Old/ World

She knows my poetry, Leading world Buddhism
Drips bright red for a sensuous bells, Buddha,
Ringing like day Breaking peaks of night, Sacramento
Where children play on Glaciers of northern Slopes
High California, Sierra Mountains, Castle Peak, Telescope
Peak, Volcanic northern Peaks up high, Shasta, Hanchangua,
Everest Tibetan Nepal, Then Home of creation, Shasta
People, Wintu, Achomawi, Atsugewi, Modoc,
Shasta Trinity Great Forest, belief To rid of deadly spirits, Turn to
Mt. Lassen long for Buddha, Rocky Pikes, Longs Peak,
Never Throwing boulders, molten ruby sliced to land,
Fire, open gorges, Atsugewi, Yani, ancient peoples,
Yahi, Maidu, Small Eruptions, where are Buddhas?
Kennesaw Mountain,South Mt, Lookout Mt, Freedom,
Black, White, indecisive battles, freedom to Asia, Gayasia,
Braymoni, Buddha voice rang out, Liberation Detachment,
Fire Sermon, Freedom from lust, cravings, and desire,
Where is Ojai?

Began May, 30, 1914 Great War German, Austrian Empire
Great Britain, French, Italian, gassed American ending
Lassen, Shasta Peoples, Indigenous Peoples To 1917,
1914 Great Chaos Crags Lassen 1,100 years Ago. Light dimmed
By time, lava flows slowed Devastated Areas three Miles around
Lassen Peak, Mountains, Near Boston, Mt Wachusett why freedom
Berkshires west in Machussetes, Mt Misery, then Beacon Hill,
Bunker Hill, Blue Hill around Boston 25, to 20 million years ago volcanic
Plug suicide Point plugged up, without lava Silent City Heights, subway.
The ferment of God, more she slides to Tea Rebelion taxes,
Letting go of possessions, even thoughts of desire, and material
Surmounted all Battles, What of W.W. 2, Bitan And remains nothing
Without Reparation, Away from Georges Land who England cannot
Rise above her, Spain, Napoleon surmonterd, where is Huma, Buddha
Glaciers ceased to flow, rock Split by snow. She is no more alone. Women from Britain Gone are life volcanos shunted up. Worlds far
Away Volcanic Child, Javir Moro, Venezuelan struggle for Independence, Mt Poramia, Pico La Concha, Cerro Sarsiama, no Tathagata,
Mexico Where do rebels hide in mountains, Americas
Simon, de Bolivar 1821 Republic of Grands Colombia, 1830, Sovereignty, Napoleon Brought dominance to 1824, April 19, 1810, Where is Ohai nested?
War for independence, Venezuela July 5, 1811, declaration
States from Spain are now Independent. Americana 1812
Where is Ojai?

Snow capped sacred, Valley Awawi, sacred Ohai of the Moon sisters,
Chumash Indigenous people of Ojai named valley of the moon when Nordof founded Nest, nested peoples, Amerindians Amazon Only now 2% we celebrate Wayuu, Pedrigo, River, 36,000 years ago. Peoples of Andes, Amazonias, Francisco
Franco 1836. Now Nicolas Maduro modernize push For democracy, Spain, Europe, December 2022 Ramon Santos Martinez, then ancient Immigrants to Country, Shephards spoke Spanish, Venezuelan, Spain, Trade with Franco, Back and forth Present day one in four have fled their homes, 2023, Venezuelan Nationals In USA, Mountain people USA rights. Even Social Security, Ojai to Plumb Village to safety,
All but voting, ancient Maduro have Spanish Nationals illegal Maduro In 1999, US imposed sanctions now US helping descendants Indigenous Peoples, Latin America Thousands, thousands, thousands, seeking US asylum, humans, Northern South America, Middle East where are children of both sides, Israel, Hamas?
Where is Ojai?


Southern Mexico, to Jungles, from Mountains, Amazon, to Andes
What to do: How do we keep Deluge of peoples from wandering into the US? Sarse History we seek Restrain thousands onslaught of Russia into Ukraine, crossing to free, Yet detained, kept Away, People? Sacred Mountains Northern California, South seeking Spanish Speaking, Where to place people Seeking asylum? Shasta, Lassen Volcanic, Southern California, Ojai my final resting place, Father's greatest fishing depression.
The nested White Pine, Douglas Fir the hardest sought,
Arizona, New Mexico, Even conservative Texas, to what? Nothing. Blight, starvation, Jobs are taken, hate Spanish speaking,There Is no Buddha Deportations where? Old Mexico, Republic to Venezuelans' Packing Plants,
Asia in Chaos as things become scarce, China in 21st Century, When
Buddha Life in North America, Gengokoan where all must finally sing, my
High Temple in Pine Mountain, Lions Camp, straight Ojai Thich
Nhat Hanh, Little, good nature, Thay our teacher, 14th Dalí Lama Tibetan,
Korea, Europe, Prime Minister of Nepal, all His Holiness, even our Genuine
Purity given disabled with international, computers, Japan, Chiba, Cities,
All the World is our Temple in our Buddha Lotus Sutra. AI,
The final words, all nations in Africa, where are
Children of Albert Schweitzer? Where is Clover?
Edward Libby planned our town center, as a four-old-boy, I walked
The deserted streets, peopled in Ojai, Found in Ojai, Vietnam.
Peaceful people, I lived there my first six years, my destiny, Ojai.

Charles Taylor, Gassho, Tai Shi
sat/lah
Gassho
Great Bows

[Tai Shi]

Two Years after Craniotomy

It's come to this again--
Study of the right temporal
Lobe craniotomy--pressure
Which cultivates my days,

Which sits, smiles lovingly
Remembering two years
Ago, we wore no black stockings
What has changed? Nothing.

Incision where the tumor rested
In my brain, nested in my hair
When I reclined from six
Hour ordeal, some doctor

Told me she knew all about it
She had observed my skull
Opened like a pomegranate
Splayed, cracked so seeds
Could pop red fluid into receiving

Pan, so simple mistakes make
Me look like I never even suffered
The priest I was meant to be--operation
Opinion failed to rid my pain, my head
Still aches, oh aches as my heart.

What shall doves like who fly
Into sky, or coo? I speak of cooing
From a rookery, pigeons, doves
Are the same, what peace
Have I today when bright

Fruit will not feed these hens
For this simple hutch made of wood
Green with Tree sap, boiled out
Of leaves, this brain surgery
Only saved then bear bones; life

Only one more night.Then gone!
Fruit of suns, flesh of Buddhas,
Come feed me, make my body strong
Forgiven of this tumor that might not
Have popped. Why was this mistake?


Gassho
sat/lah