Kobe, Japan by Rafaella Del Bourgo Under a sky the color of mica and freshly cold, the first home of my father’s father, I sit on the platform skirting a temple, its yard, earth packed by a thousand years of feet. On the margins, gravel and rock; a monk drags bamboo tines to create concentricContinue reading “Kobe, Japan by Rafaella Del Bourgo”
Tag Archives: Japan
New Year’s Haiku by Matsuo Bashō
New Year’s Haiku by Matsuo Bashō New Year’s Day— sun on every field is beloved PHOTO: Mount Fuji, the sun, and a field in Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, Japan. Photo by Tampatra1, used by permission. NOTE: Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan, standing 12,389.2 feet. An active stratovolcano, Mount Fuji last erupted from 1707 to 1708. The mountain standsContinue reading “New Year’s Haiku by Matsuo Bashō”
Native Village by Fuyuji Tanaka
Native Village by Fuyuji Tanaka A smell of dried flounder broiling At lonely noon-time in my native village Houses, their shingled roofs Weighted down with stones… Frugal smell of dried flounder broiling This lonely noon-time in my native village. On the empty white road A snow-vendor from the mountains walks alone. SOURCE: Poetry, May 1956Continue reading “Native Village by Fuyuji Tanaka”
Lucille Lang Day, Takamatsu: Ritsurin Garden
Takamatsu: Ritsurin Gardenby Lucille Lang Day Grafted together, black and red pine embrace—The Happy Couple of Ritsurin Garden, where six ponds brim with koi, yellow or mottled orange and white. Thirteen hills, one called “Mt. Fuji,” surround a man-made waterfall and teahouses in a landscape of oak, pine, plum, and cherry trees holding out tuftsContinue reading “Lucille Lang Day, Takamatsu: Ritsurin Garden”
Japanese Brush-Strokes by Jun Fujita
Japanese Brush-Strokesby Jun Fujita TWO LEAVESUnder the scowling skyThe frozen sand-plain stretches.Curled and crisp, two leavesScud away. OBLIVIONThere is no time here.From giant trunks hoary mossHangs through the air of shadowy green.And cool drew drops. MISTAbove the settling mist,Above the phantom isles upon the settling mist,In the opalized moonlight,The whinny of a horse careers by.Continue reading “Japanese Brush-Strokes by Jun Fujita”
Japanese Poems by Cynthia Zarin
Japanese Poemsby Cynthia Zarin Between the bent boughsof the splayed sumac the silverowl rests his head. The perimeterleft by your absence is longto walk in one day. The angel in hercredenza of extreme beautydogs swim the river I look for my heartby the lamp where the light isskitter in the wet black leaves PHOTO: UralContinue reading “Japanese Poems by Cynthia Zarin”
Poem for Japan by Matthew Zapruder
Poem for Japan by Matthew Zapruder all day staying inside listening to a podcast discuss how particles over the Pacific might drift I knew thinking whenever cloud scares me I am not alone my umbrella slept in the closet I placed a few nouns in beautiful cages then let them out touched with my mindContinue reading “Poem for Japan by Matthew Zapruder”
Japanese Poems by Cynthia Zarin
Japanese Poemsby Cynthia Zarin Between the bent boughsof the splayed sumac the silverowl rests his head. The perimeterleft by your absence is longto walk in one day. The angel in hercredenza of extreme beautydogs swim the river I look for my heartby the lamp where the light isskitter in the wet black leaves PAINTING: “EagleContinue reading “Japanese Poems by Cynthia Zarin”
Kyoto: March by Gary Snyder
Kyoto: Marchby Gary Snyder A few light flakes of snowFall in the feeble sun;Birds sing in the cold,A warbler by the wall. The plumBuds tight and chill soon bloom.The moon begins firstFourth, a faint slice westAt nightfall. Jupiter half-wayHigh at the end of night-Meditation. The dove cryTwangs like a bow.At dawn Mt. Hiei dusted whiteOnContinue reading “Kyoto: March by Gary Snyder”
Mt. Fuji by Basho
Mt. Fuji by Basho Water jewels falling into a dream, realm of magic Sun bumps Her forehead on peak of Mount Fuji PHOTO: The city of Fujiyoshida, Japan, with Mount Fuji in the background. Fujiyoshida is located about 32 miles from Mount Fuji. Photo by David Edelstein on Unsplash NOTE: Mount Fuji is the highestContinue reading “Mt. Fuji by Basho”
POETRY and PLACES 