May 2
VARIATIONS ON THE ALLOTMENT THEME
on a twig,
loading the ancient vibe—
dawn's caterpillar
on a gooseberry,
loading the ancient vibe—
dawn's butterfly
INFINITE SUBSTITUTION
on a _______ ,
loading the ancient vibe—
dawn's _______
OR L3 =
[ _______ sunrise ]
on a gooseberry,
loading the ancient vibe—
caterpillar sunrise
on a gooseberry,
loading the ancient vibe—
butterfly sunrise
Infinite substitution is a phenomena whereby endless variations on a theme may be expressed using the basic template. More a literary amusement than a proper haiku tool. Fun though and productive of interesting 'inner haiku'. An inner haiku is a haiku 'inside' the original. All we do is abstract a new haiku from the original haiku's connotations.
We can formulate it as described, or meditate on the original to be inspired with more of 'em. The latter using our proper haiku vision techniques, or simple being one with the pine, as Basho would chide. Something to do on a rainy day in the haiku library/studio. What we call literary haiku, a haiku axis, being that the haiku engine (the machinery of haiku under the haiku bonnet, so to say). Literary haiku is haiku which is written either from memories, dreams and reflections [Jung], to which we add forward plannings [Potts], or manufactured from flotsam and jetsam, like what Doctor Frankenstein did to create artificial life out of bits n pieces plundered from foggy graveyards at night, or cudgelled on the pedestrian hoof by ruffians with red glittering eyes and few if any scruples. The latter being the low octave of the wealthy global elite's complete lack of moral compunction.
artist's impression of a haiku engine (not to scale)
NOTE: This is probably better done as a separate item and expanded then
evolved as a living document ( unlike the good doctor's use of bits n bobs ) .
17
rest easy seeds. . . .
next door's loud ideology
scares the crows
If Canada exploits the oil in its tar sands, civilization will be at risk.
oven cleaning day,
from the tar sands of Canada
to next door's tractor
18
friday, friday,
the caterpillar's fugue
gridlocked
An interesting concept. . . .
1 fugue - dissociative disorder in which a person forgets who they are and leaves home to creates a new life; during the
fugue there is no memory of former life; after recovering there is no memory for events during the dissociative state
2 fugue - a dreamlike state of altered consciousness that may last for hours or days
3 fugue - a musical form consisting of a theme repeated a fifth above or a fourth below its first statement
INNERLUDE
how many pairs of shoes
is enough cousin
caterpillar?
The Incredibles were musical butterflies who influenced all the legends of contemporary music (Led Zeppelin templated their career on them, the Stones got into sitar and the Beatles did Sargent Pepper, for example). They got rained off their appropriate spot (quiet evening music) at the legendary Woodstock Festival (1969) and were slotted into a heavy metal blast the next day. As a result they were not featured at their best and failed to make the movie which catapulted many to superstardom. They deserved better luck. Such is the mystery of karma in action, peeps, right? Check out some of their songs on YouTube and be totally impressed by these youthful genius multi-instrumentalist songwriters -- yer ultimate hippies. World music before it happened for Peter the G over at Real World Studios (near where we live).
Sooth, a gratuitous and unabashed poem, partially filched from Geoff Chaucer. A door into another world where Arthurian landscapes meld
with Celtic faeryland and Tír na nÓg of the everlasting childhood innocence and youthful romance suffers rude reality as a . . . . . . . . . . . . .
19
It all depends on how we regard baby animals.Are they cute little robots?
Or, are they people too? So many times see animals treated as projections
of our own vanity. To regard any living thing as a toy is a crime against
life itself. Look at the world we live in today and tell me I am in error.
Even friends are enemies. We've all forgotten how to be human. Maybe too
much dead milk and not enough sunshine and rain on our faces. This is why
we recommend haiku. The outdoors variety.
down Tadpole Lane,
or maybe Lover's Lane—
old bull, young cows
Obviously (?) a honkadori a-foot (clik pic)
19
"As for karma. Dead words of some fools logic are wasted on me. Who needs that when all there is to be done is done in the instants. For example, one regardeth a question and in the silence the words are without end. Supported with graphs and pie-charts. Useful as mandalas but otherwise just mystic art and literature. That is to say existential drivel. And therefore a pastime at best. There's no end to all that. I'd rather dig Brian Setzer doing immaculate jump blues and swing. That's living all right. lol" - The Unknown Cynic
clearing the mower,
what's up down there?
socialize, socialize, socialize, socialize, socialize...
aged 3, 1929
The Central Weekend to celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
takes place from Saturday 2 June to Tuesday 5 June 2012
[more...]
INFO INNERLUDE
19
"Old pond — frogs jumped in — sound of water."
Matsuo Kinsaku
How did Basho's frog song leap into the charts from old Japan right out of the box across the
Nippon nation and then, after a few hundred years, conquer whole wide world? Apparently
that virtual living god and ultimate Japanophile, Lafcadio Hearn. He was the culprit. It took
off like a bullet from a gun but not as we know it:
'Old pond — frogs jumped in — sound of water.'
(Translation: Lafcadio Hearn)
Usually. . . .
old pond
a frog jumps in
the sound of water
OR
old pond
a frog jumps in+
water's sound
(which is comfortably tercet --3 liner-- for ELH --English Language haiku-- eyes)
Bit past tensed & linear (as it was written originally by the Matsuo) However, according to
that needle in haystack minutae purveyer of all things haiku,Hasegawa Kai --who we think
is the bees knees-- this was about the shape of it. A plurality of frogs!
[more...]
GUEST SPECIAL
20
20
a songbird
on the farmer's post
vanishes
21
sky TV
a nesting crow
dots out
TELEVISION "The etymology of the word has a mixed Latin and Greek
origin, meaning "far sight": Greek tele (τῆλε), far, and Latin visio, sight
(from video, vis- to see, or to view in the first person)." - Wikipedia
puddle TV
a début of mayflies
with cow
But what's actually going on in that shot? Obviously a male and female
in the act of procreation. The female seems to be dining on an offering
from the male.Was this the rival? If so,it beats dancehall fighting hands
down.
It is likely that this offering of food pacifies the predatory female insect. I find this creature's economy virtually sublime. Male kills rival. Rival's corpse provides distraction to female. Champion of love's ritual completes the circuit. New warriors for next year's genetic Olympics. Survival of the fittest. Secure the gene pool. A mythic gem jumps out and grapples with the reader in archetypal DNA symbols.
21
bending closer. . . .
into a vast primordial summer—
full of tiny contraptions
In a living universe everything is imbued with and is a vehicle for life's spirit (or spirit's life). Here we have a section of stone floor that appears to have a face. Is the face alive somehow? Does the face reflect an inner unconscious entity? If we meditate on this face will we be able to chat with an invisible aspect of ourselves? Does this entity have an independent existence? If so, what does it get up to when it's not at home? Or is it alien? Some preternatural being that haunts the inner primordial vastnesses behind habitual appearance.
21
new Milk Moon
a cat at the other side
wants in
22
Cannery Row—
following a summer breeze
into literature
"The narrative interrupts itself once again to sketch another little picture. This one describes an elderly "Chinaman" who walks through Cannery Row every day at dusk and again at dawn on his way to and from harvesting marine animals below the piers. His sandals make a slapping noise as he walks; this sound alerts the locals to his passing. The Chinaman is inscrutable and a little scary; no one has ever spoken to him except one little boy, who once sang a song full of racial slurs at the old man. The old man stopped and fixed him with a stare and the boy nearly lost consciousness. Since then, no one has bothered the Chinaman." - Spark Note
Also see . . . . The Old Chinaman Of Cannery Row
22
Appropriate formal presentation is fine. The motto of modern design is: FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION. It's true. A teapot that doesn't pour is useless - even if it looks pretty. The primary formal injunction of a haiku is to SHOW the original 'ah ha' moment's inspiration. Not talk about it. The original vision will inform, if it has anything to say. This is a way of seeing not readily understood in the prosaic West. This is why true haiku is a guru.
/
under the stone,
their busy summer metropolis
spoiled by tourism
UPDATE
On The Beach—
following a summer breeze
into literature
and it came to pass - geodesic_eye
The Medical Implications of Fukushima, Chernobyl and the Nuclear Age
23
splish-splash,
down an English lane
the dog of summer
"The Romans referred to the dog days as dies caniculares and associated
the hot weather with the star Sirius. They considered Sirius to be the "Dog
Star" because is the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major,, (Large
Dog). Sirius is also the brightest star in the night sky. The term, "Dog Days"
was used earlier by the Greeks." - Wikipedia
23
summer online
the streets are empty
of consumers
24
"I prefer something like cave-like-unintentional space. something
that is in between nature and artifact - formless form."
- Sou Fujimoto (interview with architect)
stone pillow. . .
its high-rise flowers
strange aircraft land
Way beyond cool. . .
24
"Opinions expressed in these haiku/senryu are those
of nature,and do not necessarily reflect in any way
those of this author." - this author
remains of the day—
an aerial circus of house martins
bring on the clowns
25
"It's like watching TV and then realising you were in dream looking
at a box, in a box." - The Haiku Shaman
a bee,
in the car's tailwind,
hitches to red lights -
another watches
from rear
whizzing. . . . . . . . . . . .
hither and thither more
baby dinosaurs!
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
26
"Don't get snared in Astral sub-planes.In fact, try
to avoid even heavenly worlds. Learn to cherish the
void; is the perennial word." - The Haiku Shaman
Moon of Flowers -
where summer stars
pierce the earth
A DABBLE WITH HAIGA
( haiga: haiku plus image )
"It's like watching a movie and then realising you were in a dream.
Then that again - as many times as is feasible. That is magical
awareness." — The Haiku Shaman
inside this sunlit tree
an invisible bird
sings the apex
26
summer online
the beach is empty
of consumers
26
"We all need to face up to our own mortality is my estimation. By
doing so, at least to some extent, you will benefit from the fresh
air and exercise. Therefore we say, eschew mirror fixations. It's
really not such a big deal. At the time." - The Haiku Shaman
ah ha, Mr Peacock -
beware young chicks of Juno,
his carnal footprint
"Junois an ancient Roman goddess, the protectorand special
counsellor of state. She is daughter of Saturn and sister (but
also wife) of the chief god Jupiter and mother of Mars and
Vulcan. Juno also looked after women of Rome." -Wikipedia
27
Does this haiku 'speak to you'? Then maybe it is
time for you to say, "I need to get a life." Or
maybe you are too busy to listen?
standing and staring -
the lesson of the buttercup
cow
Someone once explained to me that cow's breath smells like
strawberries. Maybe so. They probably enjoy Wimbleton also.
11/06/2012: Wild card play-offs . . .
wild card play-off?
a butterfly comes over
then goes back
27
*** Global Haiku E-mail News Service ***
____________ Sunday, May 27, 2012 ____________
Dateline: Planet Earth, Everywhere, May 27, 2012 —
Surprise Day, 2012: "This day can be any of the 365, or, as is the case this year,
366. No further information can be given as this would spoil the surpise." -anon
"Expecting nothing,
live frugally on surprise."
- Alice Walker (wise)
28
"So sad how some people really have an addiction and
are putting their lives aside just to sit and share
meaningless garbage. Learn to let it go and go out
in life instead of gluing yourself to your monitor."
- CCTV Spokesperson
my neighbour
uses the back door too -
porch swallows!
SWALLOW UPDATE
The porch swallows have 4 eggs (!) now and their vigilance is acute. I was discussing the escalating (current estimation : DEFCON 2) situation with a neighbour and we both agreed that having porch swallows is a challenge. However, the upside is that only the righteous have this privilege. The reason for this is that swallows are very fussy regarding whose turf they acquisition.
28
part of a wall
of rubble stone then -
cabbage white
The Great Spirit thought, "By and by I will make men, but first I will
make a home for them. It shall be very bright and beautiful. There
shall be mountains and prairies and forests,and about it all shall
be the blue waters of the sea..."
This wonderful ebook of nature myths is nicely illustrated and has a quaint aura of yesteryear. The sort of a book we might find in the attic when exploring as children. Perhaps illuminated by a dusty shaft of sunlight on a too-hot summer's day. I thought to let the short stories for children trigger memories which might represent the moral of the tale, in this case the links item. FULL INDEX How would we classify this type of haikuing? Here's an article which explains our own take on this. By the way, why not get a FREE PC Kindle from Amazon? ---> Related item: stoned butterflies
M O N A S T I C I N N E R L U D E
28
On a wing and a prayer: The extraordinary
hanging monasteries that cling to the sides
of cliffs These stunning buildings appear to defy
gravity as they perch precariously on the side of
rocks and mountains around the world to ensure
the utmost privacy during prayers.
wild blue yonder—
a buzzard family gyre
under my pencil
29
FISTFUL OF SYLLABLES
/
in a swirl of mist
steps from a Japanese print
the western haiku
Your haiku: the good, the bad and the ugly of Japan
"The following are the winners of the haiku competition launched to mark
the Community section's 10th anniversary." — The Japan Times
To be perfectly honest, I simply couldn't bear more than a quick skim's worth from the long list there.
Most these offerings are simply (unevocative) statements snipped x3 and stack-ed up all verti·cal·ly.
Simply statements, snip
ped in 3 and stack-ed up
all vert-i·cal·ly.
29
"In the beginning of a change the patriot is a scarce man, and brave,
and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him,
for then it costs nothing to be a patriot." - Mark Twain
an ice cream van
hangs around in the rain
for nobody
Now that was a guitar lesson! Listen to Van do it in context . . .
29
"I like to think that time is relative; being that
personal time is a thread-as it were-in eternity's
magic carpet. Some say all creatures are immortal
extensions of a universal awareness which is never
dimmed. So it would seem." - The Haiku Shaman
in the fridge light
a summer silverfish pauses
on kitchen foil
Silverfish (they like eating books)
"The reproduction of silverfish is preceded by a ritual involving three phases, which may last over half an hour. In the first phase, the male and female stand face to face, their trembling antennae touching, then repeatedly back off and return to this position. In the second phase the male runs away and the female chases him. In the third phase the male and female stand side by side and head-to-tail, with the male vibrating his tail against the female." - Wikipedia
—
USEFUL FREEBIE FOR HAIGA LOVERS
30
"Facebook is like jail. You sit around a lot and
waste time, write on walls and get poked by people
you don’t know." - anon
summer online -
harvest a moonlit face
for Halloween
30
"ahh good to see the brain washed masses are out in
full force today. thankfully ive the peace of mind
of knowing your not the majority the media would
have us believe" - party popper
eye trails
swallow trails
jet
"The mission of Tutu Project is to raise funds to cover the cost of self-publishing Ballerina. It’s also the story of doing good while
doing well; Ballerina is a book all about a man, his pink tutu and raising funds for women with breast cancer."
30
puzzled cows -
is that Mr Farmer in a tutu,
or a meadow flower?
:)
The images on this post's link are great SITUATION ART and the cause is a good one. Well done that man! It's all the rage this. Recently a UK schoolboy went to school in a dress to protest not being allowed to wear shorts in the hot weather (he won). Another was this guy who was kicked out of court for 'inappropriate dress' (shorts and a vest - hot weather). He whipped off to a nearby charity shop and came back dressed in a dress. The case then continued. lol What an entertaining period of history to be alive in, eh peeps, innit?
31
"If you want to be somewhere else all the time you
will never be anywhere." — The Haiku Shaman
zazen. . . . . .
the fly escapes-
zazen in motion
The simple equation is : ZAZEN + MOTION = GINKO (haiku walking).
We will continue to feature this important active element of core haiku
technique in lesson three of our ongoing HaikuOW introductory series;
designed and expressed in plain language for all students (tadpoles
and frogs alike).
http://tinyurl.com/zazeninmotion
NOTE : Zazen alludes to 'stillness of contemplation'. This quiescence
of the ensnared mind disentangles soul from its local 'local habitation
and name' (incarnatory matrix). However, we use the 'in motion' to mean
'ginko' (haiku walking) in particular. Seated meditation (zezan proper) is
associated with LITERARY HAIKU in our teachings, in contrast to wild
haiku hunting from direct experience, usually (but not always) outdoors.
The poet's eye, in a frenzy rolling,
Doth glance from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven;
And as imagination bodies forth
The forms of things unknown, the poet's pen
Turns them into shapes, and gives to airy nothing
A local habitation and a name.
— William Shakespeare / A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act 5, Scene 1
31
"Basho would probably have harnessed the modern media
as he did the media of his Edo era. Particularly the
younger Basho. It was, after all, the guy's livelihood.
The older Basho though would maybe have slackened off
a bit; possibly some posts now and again from his iPad
while out and about on those increasingly longer ginko
treks of his -far away from the maddening crowd." — jp
/
parsing the wind. . .
just like their tutor-
in little red suits
FOX FACT: Baby foxes are brown like teddy
bears to start off with.Then the soft fur turns
red as they get growed up a bit.
—
Thank You!
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