Thursday, March 24, 2011

A Sequence for Japan

Tsunami clouds
monitors display
one small frog

Basho's frog
reflects the pond
with missing limbs

a tree bows
small flowers
cover frogs

Basho's frog expands
an earth-round pouch
expels rippled cries

wind lifts the tree
flowers fly
tadpoles swim

Basho's frog
leaps over the moon
a bubble-edged pond

4 comments:

  1. Kay, A heartfelt poem sequence.

    Before the earthquake, I wrote a haiku sequence for Basho:

    The Ripples from a Splash

    moonlit pond…
    are frogs asleep
    tonight?

    flower moon --
    its eyes on the flowing clouds
    a frog

    this frog
    crouches on a lotus leaf --
    reciting Basho

    the frog
    shatters the moon’s face...
    alone by the pond

    I wonder, “What would Basho say if he were alive today and could read our poem sequences?

    Chen-ou

    ReplyDelete
  2. Chen-ou, I cannot tell a lie, I read your essay in the last Magnapoets and was inspired. I hesitate to call my sequence Haiku, because, I never conform completely to the "rules." It feels a little jilted, and I may convert it to a cinquain some day.

    Yes, I wonder what Basho would say! Thank you for your kind words. :o)
    ~Kay

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kay, I'm really sorry for the question I raised in my reply.

    It was meant to show the drastic differences of theme and tone in our poems due to the destruction of frogs' habitat.

    My apologies.

    Chen-ou

    ReplyDelete
  4. No apologies necessary, Chen-ou. I think I interpreted your question in the way you meant. :o)

    Congratulations upon the completion of your e-book!
    ~Kay

    ReplyDelete