Japan in the news

countless haiku
"capturing pain"
flood Asahi Daily

- Los Angeles Times
March 26, 2011

tsunami remains -
teacup, school picture
and memories

a neighbor's mom
is laid to rest

- Los Angeles Times
March 27, 2011

Bilingual Haiku and Tanka

Here are samples of my haiku and tanka in English and Tagalog, Philippine language, part of my poems just published in the latest issue of Sketchbook, Vol. 6, No. 1, January/February 2011.


HAIKU
wrong trail turn
the scent and sight
of wildflowers

Tagalog
maling daan
bango at tanawin
bulaklak na ligaw

TANKA
the silent sound
of her absence
fills their room
only the echoes
of yesterday remain

Tagalog

napuno ang kanilang silid 
ng tahimik na ugong
nang kanyang pagkawala
gunita ng kahapon
siya lang naiwan

Winter moon

The tanka poem above was published without the picture in:

Modern English Tanka
Vol. 1, No. 1, Autumn 2006

After the earthqake

Gabi, a German poet friend, who has been living in Japan for quite a while now, keeps a blog about the earthquake. When you get the time, here's the link:

AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE

Natural catastrophes such as this one truly unite the world as one as it should be, disaster or not.

I share my tears
with the Japanese people
who silently suffers
the tragic aftermath
of the earthquakes

My thoughts and prayers are with you all!

PRAYERS TO JAPAN

Ashley Wood, from England, who did the artwork, and I, from California, join the world in sending our fervent thoughts, love and prayers to Japan and its people. No estan solo! Hindi kayo nag-iisa! You are not alone!

- Victor P. Gendrano

Japan's earthquake

we join the world
in prayers and hope
for the safety and wellbeing
of the earthquake
and tsunami victims

Amen!

Our thoughts and prayers for the Japanese people affected by the recent earthquake and tsunami. We join all the world in praying for your safety. God bless you all!

Ash Wednesday

dust we are
to dust we shall return
Lenten's lesson