DAILY PHOTO: Scenes from Gyeongbokgung Palace

“Precept-Breaking Monk” by Ikkyū [w/ Audio]

A precept-breaking monk for eighty years --
still, I'm ashamed of Zen that ignores cause and effect.
Sickness is the result of past karma.
Now how can I honor my endless connections?

Translation by Kazuaki Tanahashi and David Schneider in: Essential Zen. 1994. HarperSanFrancisco. p. 126.

PROMPT: Motivates

Daily writing prompt
What motivates you?

When tigers chase, I run. When sunsets glow, I sit and watch.

Illusion of Depth [Haiku]

shifting shadow
on sandy bottom betrays
illusory depth.

Autumn Moon [Haiku]

Autumn moon first glimpse 
is impossibly huge;
the next, it shrank!

DAILY PHOTO: Tiny Sculptures in Seoul

“The Fish” by William Butler Yeats [w/ Audio]

Although you hide in the ebb and flow
Of the pale tide when the moon has set,
The people of coming days will know
About the casting out of my net,
And how you have leaped times out of mind
Over the little silver cords,
And think that you were hard and unkind,
And blame you with many bitter words.

PROMPT: Movies

Daily writing prompt
What are your top ten favorite movies?

No particular order: Kung Fu Hustle, Caddyshack, Matrix, Inception, John Wick 4, Airplane, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Blazing Saddles, Hero, and Drunken Master II.

Anachronism [Haiku]

the temple might stand
a thousand years ago,
but for that city.

Floating [Haiku]

boats float the river;
balloons through the sky.
i float through time.