In memoriam

It is sad and depressing to report that another haiku poetess, Janice M. Bostok, of Australia has also passed away the first week of this month. She is a revered poet, editor, teacher and patron of the Australian Haiku Society. I sent the following tanka in her memory. May she rest in peace…


in the haiku garden
another leaf fell
its imprints scattered
and left for those
who pass this way

The Flowers's Essence Slide Show

I wrote the tanka poem below, then added a picture and transformed it into haiga, a picture poem. The idea is for the reader to concentrate on ONE poem only with its accompanying image while reading line by line. Click the arrow on the lower left corner to play the show. Click on the same spot to stop/pause it momentarily.

More hints: Position your cursor on the images at the very bottom of the slide show box. The fourth one from the left is colored white with a RED slash. That image is for turning the music or or off. On the farthest right next to the music image is a full screen viewer (big white square). The attached small square retracts it back to the original size.

For those who prefer a straightforward poem, here it is.


For Lucy

the flowers' essence
lingers long after
their blooms wilt
remembering the lives
she touched on earth

© 2007

FATHER'S DAY

ODE TO MY FATHER

Gnarled hands reveal
The toil of countless years,
Unceasing care in raising us
From carefree days.
Warm them on mine, let us,
In peace, relive the bygone days
With no regret. Let's not lament
The rare instance when we snatched
From fleeting time a few minutes
Then being one, sharing one's soul
In man-to-man's togetherness.

Oh memories!
Time-warped and distance-dulled
We seem only to dwell on those
We like and dump away the rest
As if in so doing we wash our guilt
Of things undone, unspoken words
Which might haunt us in our sleep.

Your frail body, which now is sapped
Of all strength lay bedridden
Creased brow, etched lines
On aged face my hands
Nor love, cannot erase.

Hearken, I'll sing our song
When as a child you soothed my fears
I need it now to steel myself
Still sorrow, and sad swan song
Inchoate yet escaping
From my burdened breast.

And when the thief of life
Finds us apart, take heed
With you my thoughts, my love
My memories remain always
As with Mother who you precede
Rest peacefully, peacefully rest
We commend you to heaven's grace.


In my book, RUSTLE OF BAMBOO LEAVES, but first published in Heritage magazine, Vol. II, No. 1, March 1988.