Moon vigil

In my book,
RUSTLE OF BAMBOO LEAVES

Empty house

With every whip of wind
the tree's old leaves fall one by one

The naked branches that remain
flail futilely against the sky

Boisterous children''s laughter echoes
in the now empty house.


In my book,
Rustle of bamboo leaves
but originally published in World Haiku Review, Vol. 1, Issue 3, Nov. 2001.

Euthanasia

Their vow of love had remained
unbroken 'til the very end.

With a hint of Romeo
and loved Juliet's tragic play,

they committed double suicide -
euthanasia, medical term.

Lynx, a Journal for Linkng Poets
Vol.. XXV, No. 1, February 2010

A dog's tale

LORNA AND LOLA
a dog’s tale

Yesterday, my daughter requested me to accompany her to a friend’s house about two hours drive from our place. Before returning home, I invited her to dinner at her favorite Thai restaurant close to our house where she enjoyed her favorite dish with tofu and exotic drink. That’s the least I could do for her, I thought.

Psst, tomorrow is her birthday and I plan to bring her to Hokkaido, a new Japanese seafood buffet in Long Beach, one of only two locations in southern California. So this morning after my workout in the gym, I bought her a petite succulent house plant with gorgeous red flowers which I put in her room to surprise her when she comes home.


she could not bear to look back
and hear her whimper again

nor see her mournful face once more
begging for a warm embrace

she gave away her dog Lola
to her friend for adoption

Missing stone ring

This sijo poem is a work in progress, my first revision, what do you think?


my granddaughter lately asks me
of the missing stone in my ring

as she lovingly caresses
my gnarled and wrinkled fingers

hugging her tightly I whispered
I lost it in your grandma's grave

Spring blues

Here is another example of sijo.
I'll be uploading some more from time to time.


I glimpsed the color of spring
as you leizurely sauntered in

the balmy breath of air
drove the winter chill and pall away

but you did not tarry long
and soon vanished out of my dream.


In my book, Rustle of bamboo leaves,
but originally published in World Haiku Review,
Vol. 1, Issue 2, August 2001.

Aloneness

WHAT IS SIJO

Sijo is a Korean poem consisting of 44 to 46 syllables in three lines with 14 to 16 syllables each line. Sometimes it is written in six lines, the three lines split into two. It has a beginning in Line 1, development in Line 2 and conclusion with a twist or surprise ending in Line 3.

Like haiku and other Japanese poetic forms, sijo has a venerable and ancient beginnings. Poems vaguely similar to present day sijo appeared as early as 17 B.C. but the sijo did not take its characteristic patterns until the 10th century or so. Moreover, it took about 600 more years for the sijo to flower, although its history can be traced back to the Confucian monks of the 11th century.

Sijo is similar to the Japanese haiku but frequently uses metaphors, puns and allusions as well as other poetic device such as alliteration. Traditional sijo, a song lyric, was intended to be sung or chanted, hence its musical quality is apparent.

Delicate and compact, sijo covers a wide range of subjects such as politics, love, life, music, nature, loneliness, and even personal mundane matters like drinking and aging. It embodies the complex and unique concept of sadness and hope called Han, the very core of Korean life.

Here is an example of sijo. I will upload some of them from time to time, together with the other poetic forms.

ALONENESS

I still remember those years
when it seemed eternally spring.

Our mutual love for each other
grew stronger each passing year.

Now that she’s gone and I’m alone
how do you hug emptiness?

In my book, Rustle of bamboo leaves, © 2005, but originally published in World Haiku Review, Vol. 4, 2004.

IN MEMORIAM

beyond the seas lie verdant palms
nourished by the tropical sun

growing up there, we lived our lives
in carefree days 'til we parted

almost three decades later
I learned of her untimely death


My sister, the oldest child, passed away last Sunday, May 18, 2008. As a younger brother who has not seen her since 1980, I offer her these poems of tribute. Rest in peace Ate Nena! I will always cherish your memory - a second mother, cheerful, fun, and bubbly with your sweet smile, and boy can you sing!


a hummingbird
loses its grip
of the falling leaf
just got the news
of my sister's death


hunting season
the wild bird sings
no more