i see snakes jutting
from the water; usually
i’d discover
it’s not snakes but sticks,
but today isn’t the usual.
Snake Hijinx [Kyōka]
3
Category Archives: Blogs
DAILY PHOTO: Tiny Tents in the Valley, Goechala Trek
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Roughhousing Snakes [Haiku]
at water’s edge,
snakes wrestle: writhing, twining,
but slipping the pin.
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“Death, Be Not Proud” by John Donne [w/ Audio]
Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,
Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery.
Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,
And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well
And better than thy stroke; why swell'st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.
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PROMPT: Animal
Which animal would you compare yourself to and why?
Human being (Homo Sapiens) bears the closest resemblance.
Why? For starters, humans are animals. And I think if I were put in a lineup of varied species and a random intelligent person were asked to pick the Homo Sapiens, they’d pick me.
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Autumn Mind [Haiku]
paper lanterns
in the Daoist temple
turn my mind to Fall.
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Spring Dream [Haiku]
one pink-laden tree
stands amid a wall
of spring greenery.
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DAILY PHOTO: Taipei Street Art
“Written While Moored on the Qinhuai River” by Du Mu [w/ Audio]
Mist touches cold water and moon embraces the sand.
I’m moored for the night near a tavern on the Qinhuai.
The singing girl doesn’t know the empire is in bitter ruin.
Across the river I hear her singing “Blossom of the Inner Court.”
Translation: Barnstone, Tony and Ping, Chou. 2005. The Anchor Book of Chinese Poetry: From Ancient to Contemporary. New York: Anchor Books.
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PROMPT: 100-year-old
Write a letter to your 100-year-old self.
Dear Sir,
Of late, we find your kungfu lacks vigor and precision. We can no longer, in good conscience, keep you in the vanguard against invading Mongolian hordes.
Try to look on the bright side.
Sincerely,
Sumwun U. Yoostahno
Tiger Riding for Beginners 