never mind this GoliathI'm just an observer
not an overseer
In this issue: Musea presents its own Bestiary*in our 'salute to animals' issue. These pages are dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi, Italian monk and founder of the order of Franciscans; and Issa, the great Haiku poet - both of whom gave due reverence to all animals.
* * *
The loud talking tourists
on their Moon lit hike
are missing the concert
of the singing crickets
"Hush! Hush!
Hush!", says the guide.
"Listen and learn
how vast the earth is."
* * *
Go on little ant
never mind this Goliath
I'm just an observer
not an overseer
* * *
the Unicorn
bargained with Alice,
"If you,
believe in me..."
* * *
You must scruntch up
your eye little cat
to yawn that big
* * *
Crow on a branch
of a leafless tree
I stare at you
You stare at me
* * *
Cobwebs so old
even their spiders
have left them to ruin
* * *
2 dogs
one fun
* * *
the dove too
watches the Moon
* * *
antlers like
thought patterns
* * *
knocking your head
against the wall?
Leave that to experts
like the woodpecker
* * *
buzzing mosquito
pacing to and fro
* * *
the cat laps
the wavey water
* * *
Spider cornered,
"I have webs too"
* * *
the flame
rides piggyback
on the candle
* * *
buzzing from one ear to the next
down the rows of people in prayer
landing between them and wringing your hands
"Noisy mosquito you would be wise
to stop this flitting to and fro
and meditate in this holy place."
* * *
In another world
was I perhaps
kin to you
cooing dove?
(My version of Issa haiku)
* * *
Geese ballet
grand finale
the "V" Dance!
* * *
Turtle and Moon
cross the field
close race
evenly matched
* * *
the Octopus
plays sun and sun rays
in his cold
water land
* * *
the butterfly
flits over the hill
my spirit soars!
* * *
blackbird is obvious
on the cold leafless
winter branches
* * *
his retinue
was birds
* * *
lost memory
slippery fish
* * *
If you are an earthling
there's 70% chance
that you are an insect
or a flowering plant
* * *
crickets
snore
* * *
the otters waxed
and the sea urchins waned
and the kelp grew back
to luxuriant forests
(rephrasing of biologists E. Wilson's line of text)
* * *
the beekeeper also
tends to the queen
* * *
love doused
in birdsongs
* * *
a barn full of horses
a dog and a cow
a barn full of moos
neighs and bow wows
* * *
like a bird, may it fly
to a loftier place
(a line from an Assyrian text)
* * *
'Each finch -
dif. niche',
Darwin notes
all this.
* * *
Saying: Sometimes only a rhinoceros will walk with another rhinoceros
* * *
snakes
play river
* * *
"Dog don't stop
at the pointing finger!"
* * *
the flame flickers
the cricket chirps
* * *
a flock of birds
or angels or souls
flutter like wings
in the dark, dark night
* * *
field scarecrow
eyes the birds
a big world lies
beyond the fence
* * *
drops fall
from the crane's bill
little worlds
full of moonshine
(Version of a Dogen haiku)
* * *
Fleeing animals
critique the singer
* * *
rich Dragon
penniless worm
* * *
barking dog
isn't impressed
* * *
saying: Eggs shouldn't fight stones
* * *
I ship my elephants
in a blue whale
25
from stem to tail
* * *
the geese land and take off
leaving no footprints
(version of a Dogen haiku)
* * *
a rattle
in the box ...
* * *
that bush
is plump with
birdsongs)
* * *
Old haiku
New splash!
(Salute to Basho's Frog haiku)
* * *
I had a dream
where wolves grew roots
and pines picked up
and walked away
* * *
firefly
like an electron
* * *
it
irritates me
like a dog
circling
* * *
little duckling
Cupid-struck
first that moves
is your mom
* * *
the bat chases
the moth
the moth chases
the sky
* * *
saying: a crow doesn't have to convince you it's black
* * *
Pardon me sir but have you heard
That on your back there sits a bird!
At first I didn't even notice
thought my eyes were out of focus
But now I think it's just absurd
that on your back there sits a bird!
(From my kids book, Moon Tea)
* * *
ants you are mad
to work on and on
put down those burdens
and look up at that Moon!
* * *
scissors and paper
wolves and lambs
* * *
One birdsong pleases me
more than all the others.
"Come, come, come to me
come and be my lover!"
* * *
moth flits
like eighth notes
* * *
toilet paper
on little cat feet
* * *
March of the Roaches
roaches, roaches, roaches
before anybody
during anybody
after anybody
in spite of anybody
roaches, roaches, roaches
* * *
"Victory"
say the Geese -
Sky writing
* * *
Sun
firefly hive
* * *
Jellyfish floating
on the tide
full Moon
high above
* * *
revenge pangs
like flies buzzing
from ear to ear
* * *
the doves cooing
hints at more
* * *
butterfly
fingers
* * *
fireflies forming
new constellations
* * *
A Lion in an acacia tree
Lying on a limb,
Stared down so pensively
As I passed by him.
And then to my amazement
For no etiquette did he lack,
He said, "My dear, sweet, plump thing
I could use a snack."
"For its been at least 3 whole days
And 3 nights since I've ate.
And each day I get hungrier
When I see my empty plate."
He sighed and looked away awhile.
There was melancholy in his voice.
Then his daydream seemed to end
And he regained his regal poise.
"Would you my dear suggest something
That could stop this stomach rumbling?
Maybe a dinner about your size,
For no ideas seem to come to me."
"I've thought of water buffalo
Or antelope or deer,
But those four footed animals
Are quick to get out of here."
I've thought of other main course meals
And I'd like a dessert too.
I've thought and thought and now I think"
I'll make a meal of you!"
But before he leaped down on me
And before he ate me up,
I was far from the acacia tree
As fast as I could run!
(From my kids book, Moon Tea)
* * *
butterfly on a
swaying grass
life refined
and exquistite
(Version of Soin Haiku)
* * *
Late at night
in bed reading
out in the dark
1 bird singing
* * *
Catnip
Nature
* * *
saying: birds sing the truth
* * *
once they nip
at your cap
you're always aware
of where they're at!
(Diving Blue Jays)
* * *
saying: tell the other swine about these pearls
* * *
who dares approach
the Monster's Cave?
"The Monster of course,"
says the child.
* * *
dawn breaks
Rooster crows
* * *
A Capulet Cicada of 13 years
mates with her Montague of 17
So rare these feuding families meet
One chance in 221 years
Once chance for romance between the houses
Isolated lovers rejoice!
(Based on 2 species of cicadas that mate every 13 and 17 years respectively)
* * *
The dove coos
and suddenly
the sky is awash
in moonbeams
(my version of a Basho haiku)
* * *
seeing the lightning
the firefly
disbelieves
his very eyes
* * *
Loki vs. Coyote
eye to shiftless eye
* * *
Peacock
followed by
a sunset
tail
* * *
blue butterflies
slide into sky
* * *
The little brown squirrel
In the little fir tree
Doesn't go out
for biscuits and tea,
Or sail a yacht-
No not he!
"Why should I bother
when I can be
A little brown squirrel
in a little fir tree?"
(from my kids book, Moon Tea)
* * *
harness the dogs
un-muzzle their wings
lay me on the sled
and yell out 'hieeeee'
We'll climb from here
to the all night sun!
* * *
will the firefly
make the Rooster crow?
Hardly for he's
a professional
* * *
squirrels in the attic
what are they planning?
* * *
the child cries
cause he can't catch the cricket
but the cricket doesn't cry
'cause he escaped!
* * *
reading fairy tales
riding a Unicorn
* * *
the bats in their cave
are stirring and restless
and I sleep fitfully
on a hard pillow
* * *
Donkey led
round and round
turning the Miller's wheel,
high overhead the Moon
* * *
bison rumbled the earth
and raised clouds of dust behind them
layers and layers of honking birds
darkened the sky and blocked out the sun
schools of fish took their turns
slapping their tales against the surface of the water
a mighty din rose everywhere
a man could look
* * *
Don't make pies out of porcupines!
You'll take a bite and than start to cry,
with a needle through your cheek and out the other side
Don't make pies out of porcupines!
* * *
the caterpillar's soul
out from the catacombs
sprouts wings
and flies away
* * *
"The dinosaur
was as big as this,"
said the little girl
opening her arms
to the width and breadth
of her imagination.
* * *
lions, tigers,
bears and wolves,
at the windows
and the door.
"We can see you
so open up"
But the animals
refuse to budge!
* * *
the rider waves
his horse whinnies
"Goodbye", I call
as dirt raises
a cloud between us
(version of a Li Po poem)
* * *
Paramecium, Paramecium
I recognize you
You always look like
one right shoe.
* * *
pidgeons, salmons
and Thomas Wolfe
all 3 trying
to get back home
* * *
old cat sparing
with the hands of the clock
* * *
bolting rabbit
vague poem
* * *
fish tears
* * *
saying: Bears are earthlings too!
* * *
Poor proud men to loose all twice:
Copernicus showed that the Earth's NOT a stage
with all the stars - an audience in the round
And then Darwin comes and shows beyond doubt
that men and monkeys hanging from the limbs
of the family tree are related to the tree
(and even the bugs buzzing all around)
Perhaps the lesson all need to learn -
humility is STILL a vital concern.
* * *
butterfly leading
a merry chase
inches beyond
the puppy's nose
* * *
A stork and a boy were at the beach
gazing at the water.
The boy little knew the way of things
so he talked in English to the other.
"My mother says that she'll buy me
a pair of swimming trunks,
And then I can swim all the day long
and have a lot of fun."
The stork replied, "I like to wade
and fish in the shallows,
but it seems to me a lot of bother
to first go change my feathers."
The boy then added that one day,
"I'd like to learn to fly
And go to the airport and get a plane
and take off into the sky."
The stork said, "Flying is really fun
But it seems a waste to me
to do all that stuff that you talked about
when you could just go flap your wings."
(From my kids book, Moon Tea)
* * *
the wind stops
the bird lands
* * *
*Bestiary: Animal stories, common in the Middle Ages, with Christian or moral overtones. All poems by Tom Hendricks.
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