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In the Soul’s Pasture
~~ 1 ~~
in the soul’s pasture
three dappled horses grazing
on errant starfire
~~ 2 ~~
in the soul’s pasture
a signal from the horses
that smoke will follow
~~ 3 ~~
In the soul’s pasture
a rose of hope is blooming,
nourished by God’s grace.
~~ 4 ~~
in the soul’s pasture
a plant of boundless mercy—
food for hungry ones
~~ 5 ~~
In the soul’s pasture
the dismal and forsaken
find themselves again.
~~ 6 ~~
In the soul’s pasture
tiny, meandering streams
quench the pilgrim’s thirst.
~~ 7 ~~
In the soul’s pasture
bombs and bullets melt away—
plowshares take their place.
~~ 8 ~~
in the soul’s pasture
a spot where tumbleweeds thrive
threatening to spread
~~ 9 ~~
In the soul’s pasture
a ball of mud is lying
mid the sweet grasses.
~~ 10 ~~
In the soul’s pasture,
although some locks are rusted,
others turn with ease.
~~ 11 ~~
In the soul’s pasture
three pilgrims thrust and parry
with their wooden swords.
~~ 12 ~~
In the soul’s pasture,
somewhere near the edge of time,
pipers play a dirge.
© 2014 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More The Sunday Whirl, Wordle 177
More Sunday Scribblings 2: “In the Soul’s Pasture”
Another Whirl with Basho
Each haiku or senryu begins with a phrase culled from Basho: The Complete Haiku.
~~ 1 ~~
upstream and downstream
the dismal washerwomen
beating clothes on stones
~~ 2 ~~
the tide’s salty crests
signal an end to summer
and my discontent
~~ 3 ~~
whose old singing voice
moves into the empty spot
where the oak once stood
~~ 4 ~~
those who like to drink
rose-petal tea at twilight
sipping at their prayers
~~ 5 ~~
gotten by praying
to the goddess of bullets
an untimely death
~~ 6 ~~
from an unknown tree
at the edge of the forest
the cry of water
~~ 7 ~~
even coming twice
the horses seeking sugar
do not get enough
~~ 8 ~~
a bamboo thicket
where no other plant can thrive
rictus of the moon
~~ 9 ~~
without rain or snow
the empty meandering
of mountain streambeds
~~ 10 ~~
year-end housecleaning
even the locks on my doors
deserve to be brushed
~~ 11 ~~
the cicada’s voice
curls into a tiny ball
just before sunrise
~~ 12 ~~
from all directions
my foes thrust their spears at me
shafts of pampas grass
© 2014 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Poetry Pantry #217
More The Sunday Whirl, Wordle 177
Awhirl with Richard Wright
The first line of each haiku or senryu is taken from Haiku: This Other World by Richard Wright.
~~ 1 ~~
Over steaming rice
she sprinkles magic powders—
tonight, her lover!
~~ 2 ~~
In the drizzling rain
she calls out to her lover—
three crows mark her tears.
~~ 3 ~~
Under yellow leaves
she finds the letter she lost,
sodden and unread.
~~ 4 ~~
On a wet tree trunk,
three words written long ago
tell of a lost love.
~~ 5 ~~
In a flower pot
she buries a smooth white stone,
hoping it will grow.
~~ 6 ~~
In the morning sun
a pilgrim stabs her oak staff
up the mountain trail.
~~ 7 ~~
Obscuring the moon,
an ominous mountain peak
blights the pilgrim’s path.
~~ 8 ~~
To change this cold wind
after the rose petals fall,
she will need magic.
~~ 9 ~~
Brighter than ever
the cathedral door locks glow
with unholy fire.
~~ 10 ~~
Two men are parting—
one of them walks toward a pit,
where strange angels dance.
© 2013 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More The Poetry Pantry #144
More The Sunday Whirl, Wordle 102
More Carpe Diem: “Inspired by Richard Wright”
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