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Open Poetry #42
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Huan Yi
Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688
Waukegan

0 posted 2008-03-01 04:52 PM


.


At road’s end—
In a wooden hut
By the Kamo River

An old woman
Makes her face
White


.

© Copyright 2008 John Pawlik - All Rights Reserved
secondhanddreampoet
Member Ascendant
since 2006-11-07
Posts 6394
a 'Universalist' !
1 posted 2008-03-01 05:09 PM


effective traditional ('classical') Zen minimalism!

...makes me remember many lines attributed to
Ono No Komachi such as:

"lamenting the mist;"  
"feeling the sadness of the dew;"

       "in the end
   I'll be a mere haze
pale green over far fields;"

applause for this 'penning!'

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2 posted 2008-03-01 05:09 PM


John,

Ono no Komachi did write some great stuff.  White face and all.

Bobby

Huan Yi
Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688
Waukegan
3 posted 2008-03-01 05:17 PM


.

Thank you both,

This is mindful of the legend
of her later years

Sabi . . .

Thanks again,

John

Artic Wind
Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 8080
Realm of Supernatural
4 posted 2008-03-01 05:42 PM


Enjoyed the Write!

ARCTIC WIND

Huan Yi
Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688
Waukegan
5 posted 2008-03-01 05:46 PM


.

Isn’t it something though
that a woman who lived in the 8th century
is remembered  . . .

.

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA
6 posted 2008-03-01 06:10 PM


Wonderful...James
LadyTom
Member
since 2008-02-29
Posts 353
LA, CA
7 posted 2008-03-01 06:51 PM


enjoyed!!
secondhanddreampoet
Member Ascendant
since 2006-11-07
Posts 6394
a 'Universalist' !
8 posted 2008-03-01 09:36 PM


anyone who has seriously sought and read her work
(even the semi-questionable translations) knows why,
of course!:

“The pine tree by the rock
must have its memories too:
after a thousand years,
see how its branches
lean toward the ground.”

“Seeing the moonlight
spilling through these trees,
my heart fills to the brim
with autumn.”

AND!:

"How invisibly
it changes color
in this world,
the flower
of the human heart."

Midnitesun
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Empyrean
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647
Gaia
9 posted 2008-03-01 09:55 PM


Nice one, John.
Komachi is a joy to read.

Marchmadness
Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271
So. El Monte, California
10 posted 2008-03-02 03:23 AM


Much enjoyed. poem and comments.
                         Ida

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