Saturday, February 27, 2010

South Pacific

*

South Pacific







well here I am
walking on the sands
of Hanalei Bay
Kauai, Hawaii












which is where the movie
South Pacific was filmed-
even though it is not really 
the South pacific,
more like the middle Pacific
but that wouldn't make 
as a good a title... 


That little peak
in the background
is Bali Hai
whereas in the musical and movie
the mythical island 
upon which the story took place
was called Bali Hai













from the Hanalei pier
looking across the bay
lying on the water
is Puff the Magic Dragon
the front lower ridge
is the dragon's neck
the red patch his eye socket
and when the on shore winds blow
the surf sends up spray
that appears like 
Puff's steaming nostrils



(click to enlarge -
I have left the pics
at full resolution)










and on this expansive lawn
with 180 degree views of the bay
in this most special of islands
my son #1 will marry his love
tomorrow




Oh Happy days




*

Friday, February 26, 2010

Across Oceans

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Across the Oceans









I have travelled across oceans
leaving home at 9am
I arrived at my destination
at 3pm the following day














I took three flights
and spent 12 hours
in the air

leaving 32 C at home
and 99% humidity
I am enjoying 
a cool 25C














Where am I?





*

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Summer Moon

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Summer Moon





 




One evening
when we had only just moved
into our new home
 I was putting out the lights 
for bed
when something 
in the gum trees opposite
caught my eye













December moon
waxing for the second time









  




In her lacy night gown
she slumbers





 


  




Brilliant moon
is it true
that you too
must pass in a hurry


Issa








 




 One perfect moon
and the uncountable stars
drowned in a green sky


Shiki










 





From watching the moon
I turned
and my friendly old shadow
led me home


Shiki










*

Friday, February 19, 2010

Alexander Beetle

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Alexander Beetle










I found a little beetle, so that beetle was his name,
And I called him Alexander and he answered just the same.
I put him in a matchbox, and I kept him all the day...
And Nanny let my beetle out
Yes, Nanny let my beetle out
She went and let my beetle out-
And beetle ran away.








 




She said she didn't mean it, and I never said she did,
She said she wanted matches, and she just took off the lid
She said that she was sorry, but it's difficult to catch
An excited sort of beetle you've mistaken for a match.








 





She said that she was sorry, and I really mustn't mind
As there's lots and lots of beetles which she's certain we could find
If we looked about the garden for the holes where beetles hid-
And we'd get another matchbox, and write BEETLE on the lid.








  





We went to all the places which a beetle might be near,
And we made the sort of noises which a beetle likes to hear,
And I saw a kind of something, and I gave a sort of shout:
"A beetle-house and Alexander Beetle coming out!"









  




It was Alexander Beetle I'm as certain as can be
And he had a sort of look as if he thought it might be ME,
And he had a kind of look as if he thought he ought to say:
"I'm very, very sorry that I tried to run away."












And Nanny's very sorry too, for you know what she did,
And she's writing ALEXANDER very blackly on the lid,
So Nan and me are friends, because it's difficult to catch
An excited Alexander you've mistaken for a match.





A A Milne

*

Monday, February 15, 2010

Gong that Bell

*


Gong that bell...









Today is a day
for celebration




Today
I am gonging 
this great bell
at Todaji Temple
in Nara
Japan



for the benefit 
of my blogging friend
Barry
who is celebrating the end 
of his cycle of chemotherapy
at the Chemo Day Care
Princess Margaret Hospital
in Ontario, Canada



It is a custom at the hospital 
where Barry has been having treatment
to ring the bell 
as you leave the building
on the day
that your treatment completes...




Let's
ring all the bells
gong all the gongers
all across the world
and join with Barry
in a celebration
of his life



Let's think about
the wonders of science
the resilience of the body
and the tenacity of the spirit




and let's send Barry
our best wishes
and our love
for his on going recovery
and his great health
and longevity...




Let all the bells ring out now....









Gong g g g g g g g g g..............







P.S. 


Barry,
I know that the correct day
is the 18th at 2pm
However I have begun ringing
a few days early
as am going to be mobile
and in transit
for a number of days
unable to access a computer
and don't entirely trust
the pre-set function
on the posting






But I am sure
a little warm up gonging
in advance
will set the scene
and get everyone armed
with bells and gongers
in preparation 
for 2pm
on the 18th




and don't worry...
I will hear the bells ringing
from where-ever I am
on this earth...




Many Happy Days to you Barry




*

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Little Cove Walk


*

Little Cove Walk





 




Slip into your thongs...

or do you call them flip flops
  or jandals -
if you are a New Zealander,
or slippers -
as in Hawaii...









  



Let's walk down the lawn
and cross the road









  



to the steps









  



down to the boardwalk









  



 I am taking you for a walk
just a little stroll today
it is so hot
I thought you might like a swim
at Little Cove









  



What's that?









  



who's this 









  



oh 
you little beauty
it's the Blue Faced Honey Eater









  



taking refuge
in the shade 
of the palm fronds








  



see you later









  



we turn left 
and amble down hill
slowly








  



we are heading 
for this cove









  



which looks so cool
and inviting









  



it's not too busy today









  



and the sea is calm








  



 
we'll find a spot
with some shade








  



down we go









  



 you can fish








  



or swim out the back
across the cove








  



have a try at 
stand up paddling









  



snorkle
at the edge 
of the bay








  


body surf








  




or even share
a little romance









  




now we have cooled off
let's head back home









 



and if we get hot
we'll take a little rest
where the brush turkey 
has created a mammoth nest 
on the bank

and we'll look out 
over the ocean
of Little Cove
my new home...





*

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

A New Day

*


A New Day









At the rocky edge
I turn to the morning sun
Raise my arms up high
And exhale my yesterdays
Praying for a fresh new day



 




The new day begins
I am a knotted bundle -
Memories, habits.
But this day is untainted
And I am born again - Blessed







Thank you to Joel Goldsmith,
spiritual writer and mentor
from way back,
who, in his many books,
 reminded me
over and over again
that each day
brings another fresh 
new opportunity
to
become...


and thanks also to Dan 
for introducing me
to the Tanka
poetry form




*

Post Script



Dan has suggested that I tell you
about the poetic form of Tanka -
The Tanka is a little like
a stretched out Haiku



We begin with the Haiku format
which has a total of 17 syllables

in three lines:
with a five
seven
five
syllable pattern


and then we tack two further lines
on the end
each of which has 7 syllables.


And there you have it
A Tanka


A lovely and simple form of writing poetry
where brevity is of the essence
and being succinct
captures the spirit
of the writer's intention
in a nutshell


*

Friday, February 5, 2010

Genji

*



The Tale of Genji





 



In the Christmas parcel,
from my daughter 
who lives in Tokyo,
amongst other edible treats
was a packet of 'Genji Pie'







  



The packet claims,
in that quintessential Japanese way ,
that Genji Pie
are heartwarming








  



Each little biscuit,
individually wrapped,
is heart shaped
and bears no resemblance
to a pie of any sort








  


Crunchy and sugar topped
they make a nice sweet accompaniement 
to my Earl Grey tea






  



 From this angle 
they look a little like
looking up a gum tree 
at a koala butt







  



Why not make your tea time
more delightful
with Genji-Pie






  



Now Genji Pie
must take it's name from
this novel -
'The Tale of Genji'
a medieval Japanese novel
claimed to be the oldest novel in existence
The Tale of Genji
written by Murasaki Shikibu,
celebrated it's 1000 year birthday last year








  


Here is the dashing hero himself
the Shining Prince
now commoner Genji
a man of great talents
and irresistible charms







  



The Tale is over 1100 pages long
which creates quite a feat to read
and also trying to hold the hefty tome 
when in bed reading

Genji has many amorous adventures
through which we learn of life 
in the imperial court,
the intricate and beautiful apparel worn,
the poetry and music
and the customs
of 10th and 11th century Japan






  



You may remember
when I was boot bound
last winter
with the irrascible ankle
I received a number of books
from Amazon
including this one
Geisha
written by Liza Dalby


Liza Dalby was an American anthropologist
who lived and worked in Kyoto
in the 1970s 
as a Geisha in training











Liza Dalby
has also written
The Tale of Murasaki
based on the life of Murasaki Shikibu
the writer of Genji

I read this novel before tackling 
The Tale of Genji
and it helped to set the scene
for the epic adventures 
of our indefatigable hero







  



At the same time I ordered these books
Friko offered us
some passages
from Sei Shonagon's 
Pillow Book

No, nothing to do with bedtime,
it is a book of court life
in the same time period
which expresses the personal thoughts
and feelings 
of a court gentlewoman
and reknown poet
of the day,
Sei Shonagon







 




I think I shall now
sit an enjoy 
another risque adventure
of the handsome and irrepressible Genji
whilst nibbling 
my heartwarming 
Genji Pie







*