Seasons with Yuki Teikei

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Kiyoko's Laughter

When Kiyoko laughed, there was nothing halfhearted about it, She really enjoyed

Jane Hirshfield when she was the featured guest at the Asilomar Haiku Retreat.

Jane's book The Ink Dark Moon translated from the Japanese

with Mariko Aritani had just come out.

It seemed to me these two could really communicate through their mutual love for

ancient Japanese literature, Below is a little example of Kiyoko's gift for laughter.

Such a summer day!

among the dazzling things

are my guest's knees

Kiyoko Tokutomi

Kiyoko's Sky; the haiku of Kiyoko Tokutomi,

Brooks Books, 2002, page 78.

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Sound of the Stream

The day we went to Muir Woods with Dr. Arima

it had been raining and the stream was running fast and clear.

Once in a while, drop fell from the trees.

thinking of Dogen

I search for plum blossoms

in the redwood grove

Donnalynn Chase

Monday, August 10, 2015

Moon over Asilomar

Walking back from the beach, there was the moon. Plus, if you can spot it,
at the bottom of this photograph
there is the top of one of those antique-style lantern-lights
that help you find your way

back to your room.
Asilomar is gorgeous night and day!

waking to the moon
staring me full in the face-
daughters, too, at war

Patricia J. Machmiller

muse of the bird-song tree, 2008 YT Anthology, Paul Williams, editor

Sunday, August 9, 2015

The Tree of Ferns

Walking in Muir Woods with Dr. Arima in 2007,

I had to ignore the redwoods a moment

to look at the ferns growing on this tree.

(Search Arima in the bar at the upper left to see other posts about this visit.

Redwood

So, redwood,
I finally know you:

you are a tall bishop of dust
whose arms extend in every direction
to bless the earth.

Morton Marcus

The Santa Cruz Mountain Poems, Capra Press, 1072, n.p.

This is not a haiku, but a short poem with an interesting structure;
one can see how a person who writes haiku could also be inspired to write a poem like this one. Redwoods grow in the Santa Cruz Mountains as well as in Muir Woods north of San Francisco.