Spanish Moss drapes
from the bare branches over
the cool blue river.
Spanish Moss [Haiku]
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Category Archives: Poetry
Big City Moon [Haiku]
in the darkness
beyond the big city lights,
a moon looms.
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“Reply to Caishu’s ‘Ancient Temple by a River'” by Mei Yaochen [w/ Audio]
Old trees with tangled hanging tassels
by a deserted temple open to the river.
Rain, rain threw down the clay statues
and wind blew down this ancient building.
Wild birds nest in dusty shrines,
fishermen hold a bamboo lottery cup.
About to play the tune "Mountain Ghost," I stop:
the Verses of Chu make me too sad.
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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Water Sound [Haiku]
the sound of rain
and thundering waterfalls:
a cat sleeps soundly.
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Rainy Day Raft [Haiku]
a tiny frog
on a rain-soaked leaf,
washed away, leaf-n-all.
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“Walking to Guanghua Temple by Moonlight” by Ouyang Xiu [w/ Audio]
Sound of water cascading over rock.
A silent mountain in the night.
Bright moonlight washes over the pines.
One thousand peaks, all in one color.
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Lily Pad Heron [Haiku]
water lilies stand
confidently, while herons
step warily.
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“Retort” by Paul Laurence Dunbar [w/ Audio]
"Thou art a fool," said my head to my heart,
"Indeed, the greatest of fools thou art,
To be led astray by the trick of a tress,
By a smiling face or a ribbon smart;"
And my heart was in sore distress.
Then Phyllis came by, and her face was fair,
The light gleamed soft on her raven hair;
And her lips were blooming a rosy red.
Then my heart spoke out with a right bold air:
"Thou art worse than a fool, O head!"
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Hornbill [Haiku]
perching hornbill:
a plodding half-ton bovine
doesn't merit attention.
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The Other Shore [Free Verse]
Standing on the bank,
Looking at the other shore --
A hundred meters or a mile?
Does it matter,
In such a fast flow?
If I were to swim for it,
Launching myself into
Those cold, choppy waves,
Which would I reach first:
The other shore, or
The Falls, downstream?
Tiger Riding for Beginners 