by phillipw | Feb 22, 2022 | BU, HA, UN
The Subatomic and the Infinite A trout swims beneath. Clouds moves upon the surface And above the stream. The perfect haikus, if such things exist, Involve minutiae of life; not just Those, though. Embracing clarity and mist The lines take in the astral, far the...
by phillipw | Feb 17, 2022 | CI, HA
Dying Cicadas Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem May at least just one Of them live on this night, Autumn cicada. ~ Yayū Much weaker and much weaker comes the sound Cicadas...
by phillipw | Feb 17, 2022 | HA, HE, TH
Hesitating, Hesitating, Slowly, Slowly A tiny snail, this, One horn long, one much shorter . . . What troubles his heart? ~ Buson Uncertainty is unattractive in A man but in the little creatures it Can be endearing like a lonely grin At twilight where the new...
by phillipw | Feb 12, 2022 | CI, HA
Either Audible or Visible—You Can’t Have Both Together The cicada is Seen when it stops crying Finally—and flies. ~ Shiki The insect does its dry annoyance Of noise, but, not until it flaps its wings To fly away, the best clairvoyance Will ever find him where he...
by phillipw | Feb 9, 2022 | AU, FA, HA, SI
Silence Beyond Silence Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem The quietness; A chestnut leaf sinks Through the still water. ~Shōhaku When all the world is hushed, the quietest sounds...
by phillipw | Feb 4, 2022 | BR, DE, FI, HA, LO, SE
The Secret Life of Things For the space of a foot, The firefly’s light goes out: Loneliness. ~ Hokushi The firefly floats along in darkness, light, Dark, light. The floating is revealed alone By flashing, though the blinking is so slight That only...
