an old writer and his words

  • GROWING

    Buddha cares little for the endless prostrations preferring Summer. The sun ignores the Buddha and bows to the greening rice. The grass is growing When we are present to watch Without us — growing.

    Lou Faber

  • SEASONINGS (HAIKU)

      above only sky beneath only dark gray clouds the sun is content a mountain of clouds rises from white tufted bed the earth is watered in winter’s icy chill ripples from autumn’s pebble await the spring sun the leafless ginkgo taunts the first snow of winter with the dream of spring

    Lou Faber

  • MARCH APPROACHING (HAIKU)

    Winter dies slowly under the jay’s watchful eye harbinger of spring. The ghosts of winter hide behind the Sun, the hawk hears them. Frail pink petals fall onto slowly warming earth the winter concedes.

    Lou Faber

  • A SOUTHERN WINTER (HAIKU)

    In the dark of night clouds gavotte across the sky we awake to rain There is no snow here – we dream of Fujiyama imagine winter. A thousand cranes rise take wing over the city smiling at the sun.

    Lou Faber

  • EDGE OF WINTER (FOUR HAIKU)

    The clouds build slowly threatening to overtake the maple’s red leaves. October cloud knives Slice branches from saddened trees Leaves fall in mourning Dogs peer at dawn’s sky And slowly don winter coats Knowing geese take flight Tomorrow the snow Will not fall from evening clouds But soon, very soon

    Lou Faber

  • INSTRUCTIONS TO THE NOVICE HAIKUIST (AND AN EXAMPLE)

    INSTRUCTIONS: Make certain that you carefully count syllables and mention summer   EXAMPLE perhaps not a bang certainly not a whimper– summer’s arrival.

    Lou Faber

  • ABSURD, YOU SAY?

    Here in Haikutown verisimilitude can be found in line two.   But over in Tankaville it can have three addresses.

    Lou Faber

  • THREE THOUGHTS (HAIKU)

    The pelican dives beneath an ominous sky – this is no Koi pond. Snowy egret stares, his reflection returns it calm pond undisturbed. Haiku is perfect if you adhere to the form in all four seasons.

    Lou Faber

  • THREE HAIKU

    an entire flower and a single rose petal duplicate beauty a whole universe exists in a drop of dew life evaporates two crested ducks pay no attention to people offering nothing

    Lou Faber

  • NI HAIKU 二俳句

    a great blue heron watches the morning sun rise ginkgos awaken newly hatched goslings watching the trees take flower imagine summer 大な青い鷺 朝の太陽を見る イチョウ覚醒 孵化した新芽 木の花を見て 夏の夢 (daina aoi sagi Asa no taiyō o miru Ichō kakusei Fuka shita shinme Ki no hana o mite Natsu no yume)  

    Lou Faber