ARTS: Ango/Jukai Poetry 2020

[Kokuu]

Hi all

This is a small haibun which has just been published and was written in memory of a haiku writing friend in Texas who died last fall.


Autumnal

(for Jan Benson 1952-2019)

She was sick but that is true for so many of my friends. Admittedly, the diagnoses sounded more final than chronic, but her energy for life continued to be so strong.

One day she told me she had no more pictures of crows to send.

I didn’t know that was her way of saying she was dying.

grandmother moon
the resilience
of violets


(Drifting Sands, Issue 3, September 2010: vhttps://drifting-sands-haibun.org/09/2020/autumnal/)


Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday-

[Seikan]

Hi all

This is a small haibun which has just been published and was written in memory of a haiku writing friend in Texas who died last fall.


Autumnal

(for Jan Benson 1952-2019)

She was sick but that is true for so many of my friends. Admittedly, the diagnoses sounded more final than chronic, but her energy for life continued to be so strong.

One day she told me she had no more pictures of crows to send.

I didn’t know that was her way of saying she was dying.

grandmother moon
the resilience
of violets


(Drifting Sands, Issue 3, September 2010: vhttps://drifting-sands-haibun.org/09/2020/autumnal/)


Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday-

Kokuu,

That is truly a beautiful tribute to your friend. What a wonderful way to remember her. Gassho2

Gassho,
Rob

-stlah-


Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[Seikan]

Sleep Waking

The house fast asleep, I drift out of bed
Lured by the cool midnight breeze
That lusty siren at my window

The neighborhood sleeps as well, sedated
By the anesthetic breath of Autumn
Not a sleepwalker in sight

Most nights the cricket symphony plays on
Keeping the darkness alive
But there is no performance tonight

An odd quiet hangs upon the hour
My ears plunge deep into the silence
Only to return empty-handed

Wrapped snug in the crisp night air
I give my thoughts up to the night
Where they dissolve on contact

Such a pristine stillness
Only clouds
Brushing past the moon


Gassho,
Rob

-stlah-

[Risho]

Rob that is beautiful

Gassho

Risho
-stlah

[Bion]

Sleep Waking

The house fast asleep, I drift out of bed
Lured by the cool midnight breeze
That lusty siren at my window

The neighborhood sleeps as well, sedated
By the anesthetic breath of Autumn
Not a sleepwalker in sight

Most nights the cricket symphony plays on
Keeping the darkness alive
But there is no performance tonight

An odd quiet hangs upon the hour
My ears plunge deep into the silence
Only to return empty-handed

Wrapped snug in the crisp night air
I give my thoughts up to the night
Where they dissolve on contact

Such a pristine stillness
Only clouds
Brushing past the moon


Gassho,
Rob

-stlah-

“Wrapped snug in the crisp night air
I give my thoughts up to the night..”

Loved that! [emoji3590]

[emoji1374] SatToday

[Kokuu]

Beautiful, Rob! I especially love these last lines:

Such a pristine stillness
Only clouds
Brushing past the moon

Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday-

[Seikan]

Risho, Jake, Kokuu,

Thank you all very much for your kind words. I'm glad that my work resonates with you.

Gassho,
Rob

-stlah-

[Seikan]

As the Dust Rains Down

Every bow
A return to center
Hands in gassho
Head tipped in quiet surrender
To what simply is

Time slows to a crawl
The moment resolves into focus
All things hang in balance
The relative and the absolute
Dancing together in perfect step

Infinity has no home
But for itself
No edges to be found
The center lies everywhere

It can never be lost
It can only be found



Gassho,
Rob

-stlah-

[Shonin Risa Bear]

So much here!
I dip my eyes and drink
the nothing up.

gassho shonin satlah

[Seikan]

So much here!
I dip my eyes and drink
the nothing up.

gassho shonin satlah

Beautiful!




Gassho,
Rob

-stlah-

[Seikan]

Been working on this one lately, and Jundo's timely Dharma talk during tonight's Zazenkai inspired me to try and finish it.


Bonds of Silence

We talk too much
The more we speak
The more we disagree

Words encircle us
Lines drawn in the sand
Inside versus outside

We would do better
Sitting in silence
Beyond this labyrinth of words

For in that moment
Without a single syllable
All is made clear

The smallest gesture
A subtle bow, a smile
Unites us in eternity

We need only listen
To the gentle wisdom
Of the softly falling snow


Gassho,
Rob

-stlah

[Yokai]

Thank you Rob. Wonderful [emoji120]
Gassho, Chris satlah

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[Eikyo]

Been working on this one lately, and Jundo's timely Dharma talk during tonight's Zazenkai inspired me to try and finish it.


Bonds of Silence

We talk too much
The more we speak
The more we disagree

Words encircle us
Lines drawn in the sand
Inside versus outside

We would do better
Sitting in silence
Beyond this labyrinth of words

For in that moment
Without a single syllable
All is made clear

The smallest gesture
A subtle bow, a smile
Unites us in eternity

We need only listen
To the gentle wisdom
Of the softly falling snow


Gassho,
Rob

-stlah

Beautiful!!

Gassho,
Dee
Sat / Lah

[Kokuu]

Lovely, Rob!

Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday-

[Seikan]

Chris, Dee, Kokuu,

Thank you all for your kind words. I'm so glad that the poem resonated with each of you in some way.

Deep bows,
Rob

-stlah-