1000 stanzas

Wrote full moon haiku,

by river banks,

purple trees watching

smiling Basho

in the sand

               the moon!

               the moon!

sitting grey haired

in the night

I dance inside

the flame

I throw my poems

into the wind

unadorned

unread

too soon,

the ancient Buddha

willow tree

old

gnarled

silent

Diamond sutra

laughter lines

in the sand

to the world

leave me alone

with the thoughts of

Buson

Reviews

[Eilis]

My first feeling after reading this was that feeling of coming to terms with a certain shift and just letting it flow over. The zen of Japanese poetry in its carving out the core of an idea kind of refining the mind. Even if only momentarily.

I like the feel of it. Sometimes when I go outside before sunrise this time of year, the air cuts into my lungs in the most satisfying way. Like it’s empty and ready to receive anything- asking me to be the same. Prepping me as I breathe in. That’s kind of how this feels to me. Inhaling a sense of sharp renewal, waiting to grasp how the exhale falls.

A few years ago, on a bad night, I discarded about 100 poems I had written. I had no back up copies. I just needed them to be gone at the time. Some of them still live on in my head, and sometimes lines from others will come into my head, but mostly they’re just gone. Mine weren’t on paper, but the act of it was like throwing them to the wind. Like the speaker in your poem. And realizing a little too late that I wasn’t exactly ready to let them go. But, there it is. I saw myself in that moment when I read that part of your poem.

My favorite part of this, though, is the part where the exultation or adoration of the moon mixes with ‘sitting grey haired in the night’ and creates this double image of the moon and the man becoming one. That’s how it shakes out in my head anyway. I love the idea of that.

Really enjoy the mixing of states in this poem. And the sense of refined understanding tempered by what the title implies- as in- there is so much more to understand. This is great.

[gram linski]

Hey, Eilis you do get around, lol, it's actually several poems mangled into one, which might explain the mixing of states, lol, lost poetry is like lost love, never to be found again but always lurking at the back of your brain

[barleygirl]

I love this poem . . . great imagery in the graceful tradition of eastern art. What comes to mind for me is how it's more important to embrace the artistic journey, not worrying about who will read/see/hear, if it will be popularly received, etc. Just like the art in the forest, words do not have to be read to be pleasing (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[gram linski]

thanks, Margie, great review, there is an estate close to me that has a forest art gallery, with 7 ft wicker cats sitting in trees and small mosaic pebble paintings on the path and chainsawed mushroom stump trees, great place for a wander and a smoke,

[barleygirl]

JEALOUS!!! *wink! wink!*

[Chris Shaw]

Freedom with our poetic thoughts. Close to nature. That's where you took me with these lines. All good wishes

Chris

[gram linski]

Cheers, Chris, a mellow moment in time, few and far between,lol,

[Coyote Poetry]

Wonderful use of words. The words danced to perfection places and thoughts. Thank you for sharing the amazing poetry my friend.
Coyote

[gram linski]

Thanks again, dude, always nice to have a little pocket of serenity in the chaos

[Onlyme]

Beautiful poem of carefree, openness, honesty and frankness. Of not giving a damn. And just going with the flow of life and your freedom of will.

[gram linski]

Thanks Dawn, today was a good day, lol

[jacob erin-cilberto]

a poet's meditation...yes, the trees watch...we write, we throw them against the wind...and somehow the themes and others' interpretations of the themes drift back to us on that strong current
and in the end...we are alone with our thoughts...but have drawn our lines in the sand.
nicely done.

[gram linski]

Glad you liked it j. the power of meditation can be a powerful thing, f***s your knees up, but gives you little pockets of quiet and sanity in the mad, mad, mad, world

[John Alexander McFadyen]

You serve up a Japanese poetry feast in a flowing flowery free verse here gram. A joy to read and the message feels serene and calming! Loved it.

[gram linski]

That one is for you, John, cheers

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I am in your debt dear poet.