8/31/2007

Praying Mantiss

  
  





a visitor's card
left at my doorstep ...
praying mantiss













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This is her husk on the red cap of my husband.

She left it to start her new life a size bigger than before !
Like a cicada or snakes, they change size and leave us their treasures behind ...

Some even grind these hulls to powder and make Chinese medicine for long life out of it!
To find one is an auspicious omen !



. Comments from HH friends

I saw the photo of the Praying Mantis. Very sad . . .
But a thought provoking haiku.

.....

Hi Gabi,
This is amazing..gives me the shivers, but I love the sabi element. Our life is so short and so fragile, isn't it.

.....

it's beautiful GABI and your haiku resontes well!

.....

Oh, this is wonderful, Gabi san!
I didn't realize they did that...
I've never seen one around here, although I think they do live in our area.

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Praying Mantiss, a KIGO



Read my Haiku Archives 2007


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WKD - New Roof - Carpenter

  
  




autumn rain -
a new roof grows
under blue shadows











September first -
a new roof
on the old house







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NEW ROOF !
PHOTOS start from HERE !


Our roof is originally a thatched one, like most of them in rural areas more than 80 years ago, with the thatch fastened with ropes on a bamboo grid. That was simply covered with tin plates maybe 40 years ago, when the thatch had too many holes and was not watertight any more. Covering it with tin plates is much cheaper than re-thatching ...

When we bought the house 12 years ago, they told us the roof needed repair, so we pondered it ... until two years ago, a typhoon took part of the ridge decoration off.
We asked a carpenter to do some repairs, but he never showed up, until this year, another typhoon got the bottom plates really welded up high in the air ... now this was time to act !

So we asked a different carpenter, who did it all with his crew of two, in the rain, within three days, to make sure the arriving typhoon number 9, already brewing, will not do more harm.

We were really lucky with the weather, forecast for a strong rainy week, but when the carpenters came, there were dry spells and only soft rain in our area, so they could work under their makeshift tents. And we spent two nights without a proper roof, crossing our fingers for the blue sheets to keep in place, with success, so not much rain found its way inside.

They took off all the old wooden grid and the rusty nails, put on a new thicker grid and added the long tin plates with a new method of screwing it tightly on the thick grid. They also re-screwed the ridge decorations and secured the top decoration, so we hope this will last for a while ... and still hope number nine will pass a different route ...

We have not had any strong wind since the repair started, .. thanks GOD ! .. but I have the feeling it has become more quiet in my bedroom, which is just below this roof and has been moaning and groaning in the slightest wind, when the tin plates started vibrating with their loosened rusty nails.


..... ..... 2007年の台風情報
..... Typhoon Season 2007 .



Read my Haiku Archives


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daiku 大工 carpenter
tooryoo 棟梁  master carpenter


He is a most important person when building a new wooden home, temple or shrine.




Though there is a core practice shared by all Japanese carpenters, defined by a vocabulary of tools and joints and a methodology of working, a carpenter will typically identify with one of four distinct carpentry professions.
© More in the WIKIPEDIA !



煤はきは 己が棚つる 大工かな
susuhaki wa ono ga tana tsuru daiku kana

year-end cleaning —
the carpenter builds a shelf
for his own home

Tr. Stephen Addiss


housecleaning day —
hanging a shelf at his own home
a carpenter

Tr. Makoto Ueda


Großreinemachen –
ein Bord ins eigene Heim hängt
sich der Zimmermann

Tr. Udo Wenzel


Matsuo Basho 松尾芭蕉
元禄6年冬 - winter of 1694


. Matsuo Basho 松尾芭蕉 - Archives of the WKD .

. . . . .


the master carpenter
loves the new potatoes best -
let's take a quick lunch

Yoshioka Yutaka 吉岡ゆたか , 2007


. . . . .


Building my new home - Gabi Greve :
. Ground-breaking ceremony (jichinsai 鎮祭 ) .



An important tool of the carpenter:
. nokogiri 鋸 (のこぎり) saw .


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[ . BACK to DARUMA MUSEUM TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
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8/29/2007

Spidernet

  
  










looking up -
a first sign of autumn
in the net







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Spiders in Paradise 。。極楽の蜘蛛


Read my Haiku Archives 2007


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8/26/2007

virtual silence

  
  



virtual silence



  
 






nobody comments
on my haiku









Prof. John Stackhouse

E-mail Silence:
I’m Not Writing Back Because I Hate You


I’ve come to see e-mail silence–when someone takes longer to reply than I think she should–as a Rorschach test. How I interpret that void, how I fill it in, tells me what’s in my mind to use as filler.

Earlier this year, a friend of mine in another city did not reply to several e-mails I sent him over three months. I passed through a succession of emotions: denial (”It’s no big deal”) to anxiety (”I wonder what’s wrong”) to anger (”That conceited jerk!”) to sadness (”He doesn’t like me anymore”).

Finally, he did reply, and told me that he and his professional website had encountered a terrible series of problems with their ISP that lasted, yes, three months, and he was only now back online and catching up.

Have you ever had to take one of those psychological tests consisting of sentence stem completions? They look like this: “When I walk into a room, I feel ____” or “When people look at me, they think ___.” Well, e-mail silence is like that: “My boss isn’t writing me back right away because ____” or “My father isn’t writing me back right away because ____” or “My girlfriend isn’t writing me back right away because ______.”

What I fill in tells me something of what I have in mind to fill it in with. And when I consider my customary reactions to e-mail silence, I sometimes don’t like what I see.

Cognitive therapist Dr. David Burns warns us against “mind reading” and “catastrophism,” the habits of mind by which (1) we assume we know what someone else is thinking and (2) we assume the worst. Indeed, a therapist friend of mine says that most people who engage in mind reading also engage in catastrophism, rather than assuming positive motives: “He’s not writing me back right away because he’s mulling over just which superlatives to use!”

Read it all HERE

 © John Stackhouse

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More abuot EMAIL SILENCE !


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some comments

Love your senryu, Gabi!
And a good question...
it's funny how I can sense what I like or don't like about someone else's work, yet
can't tell about my own!
But as you say, when the comments are contradictory... that doesn't help much!

I remember your "silence of stones"... an awesome haiku!

.....

bright autumn day -
listening to the silence
of stones growing older

This one's lovely, Gabi. And if we listen carefully, what will we hear, I wonder? Thanks for sharing this.

.....

I say, think positive thoughts.
A autumn leaf desires nothing else than to be a leaf. Silence is only uncomfortable for those that need it filled. My thought for the day..

.....

Hi Gabi,

I'm not sure we've met but it's a pleasure to read you!

your 'silence of stones' haiku is inspired, I truly enjoyed it!

this is a very interesting thread... I believe we sometimes assume the worst
because an ego is a fragile thing that needs careful handling and we all have a little...
after all, doesn't society teach us to "look out for #1"..,

.....

Ahh yes... I ALWAYS assume, when there no comments, that my haiku so stunned the reader with its grace, trueness to form, and sense of wonder that they COULD NOT recover composure enough to respond...

THEN, I hasten back for a 're-write-...

.....

gabi, my silence, virtual or actual, on this only means I've been to busy to check in for the last few days.

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More of my Haiku about SILENCE !


Read my Haiku Archives 2007


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8/25/2007

monkey

  
  







what do you think?
he asked
nothing, said monkey





CLICK to read about Takamura Ko-Un !






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Sculptor Takamura Ko-Un 老猿(ろうえん)



Read my Haiku Archives 2007


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8/24/2007

eternity

  
  


  
  








eternity -
the spider's thread
from HERE to THERE
















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After the rain, there was just this long one thread stretching from the stones to the chair on the terasse, sparkling in late sunlight.

I should get a better camera, but I hope you will see the beauty anyway.




Read my Haiku Archives 2007


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8/23/2007

Layers of clouds

  
  





layers of clouds

and yet

the sky stays blue








HAIKU
The color BLUE for heaven and water



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A while later I found this haiku by Bonchoo:


上行くと下来る雲や 秋の空
ue yuku to shita kuru kumo ya aki no sora

clouds floating above
and clouds floating below -
autumn sky


Nozawa Boncho 野沢凡兆
SKY and kigo

Clouds in my Haiku Valley 谷に雲


Read my Haiku Archives 2007


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8/19/2007

old and young

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lush summer leaves <>
the old, the young and
the one's inbetween









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Inspired from HERE !
Haibun by Larry Bole




Read my Haiku Archives 2007


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8/17/2007

Sweltering Heat

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just sitting outside in more than 38℃, sweating,
eyes closed, too hot for any action



sweltering heat -
the different songs
of cicadas



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Read my Haiku Archives 2007


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roses

  
  








tiny roses
in late sunshine -
our great love







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Read my Haiku Archives 2007


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Last Bon ceremony

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送り火や 家族で見えし 流れ星

okuribi ya kazoku de mieshi nagareboshi



sending-off the souls -
the whole family watches
shooting stars





The whole large family of our neighbour, now 82, has been back home this year, which is quite seldom lately in rural Japan.
So many generations watched the heavenly spectacle together in great awe!


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The final ceremony for O-Bon is sending off the ancestor's souls with a special fire, okuirbi.


My First Bon Ceremony

My Shooting Stars


O-Bon rituals and related KIGO



CLICK for more photos !

Okuribi, the great send-off fire in Kyoto


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some comments

Nice one, Gabi . . . and blessed, indeed.

.....

How exciting, Gabi...
love the fireworks!
I enjoyed your haiku -- and learning about this event!

.....

Hi Gabi - A very good haiku and one that has instructed me in a wonderful tradition. I only wonder if it would work better for most readers if you drop the hyphen after "sending"? I realize it can work either way . . . jez wonderin'

sending off the souls–
the whole family watches
shooting stars

.. GABI : Thanks, for your suggestion.

I guess I mixed it up with the usual translation for okuribi,
(送り火) (roughly, "send-off fire").

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Read my Haiku Archives 2007


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8/15/2007

Shooting Stars

  
  

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\ ......... \



shooting stars -
how many promises
will he keep ?



/

。。。。。。。。。。。



catch the moment -
the shooting stars outnumber
my wishes




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Meteor Showers as KIGO

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some comments

This is SO good! It has the dreamy quality of the old masters. So reflective and just right.
Thoroughly enjoyed.

.....

I missed it! Thanks for the links Gabi, and the lovely haiku.

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Oh, a wonderful haiku, Gabi san! Fine work indeed!

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Lovely, haiku, Gabi. Glad you've had a good view of the meteor showers. So often, we end up with clouds!!!

.....

its a lovely haiku ... makes me go all tanka-ish ...
i cant see the pic ... i see the wording and what i think must be the stars are slashes and dots ... however i can imagine it ...

.....

Aaaah! Hi Gabi, A beauty!

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Read my Haiku Archives 2007


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8/14/2007

Mother Mosquitoe

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I watch her
s l o w l y .. sucking my blood -
mother mosquitoe









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This one became so dear to me, I just could not swat her off. She left quietly after finishing her meal, and the spot did not itch as much as it usually does ...


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Actually, the first version of this one was written a few days ago in hospital, when a young unexperienced sister nurse tried her hand at my veins ... only later, when this mosquito choose almost the same spot for her action, it clicked again



I watch her
s l o w l y sucking my blood -
sister Mosquito





... Mosquitoes (ka 蚊) ... a KIGO

Comments from HH

hey Gabi, I like how you stretched out "slowly"

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Oh, a beautiful moment, Gabi...
(I've done this -- once or twice, lol!)

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Lovely GABI!
I like the way you've done it!

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Hi Gabi. I can't think of anything else that I would watch "slowly sucking my blood" so L3 seems rather obvious. If your remove "my blood" I think your 'ku will pack more of a punch ...

I watch her
slowly sucking ...
mother mosquito


... now I see a baby at the breast in the first two lines - suddenly transformed in the third.

.....

a s l o w rise
to the bump --
blood plump "ka"

INSPIRATIONAL as USUAL dear Gabi san

知美

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Read my Haiku Archives 2007


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Early Morning

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early morning -
the joy to be
BACK again



gentle rain
on the parched fields -
Namu Amida Butsu




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Read my Haiku Archives 2007


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8/13/2007

Rainbow

  
  



初盆や
夕日の雲に虹のある









first Bon ceremony -
a rainbow joins
the sunset clouds














CLICK for more photos !CLICK for more photos !CLICK for more Photos !






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First Bon Ceremony (hatsu Bon)
Performed for a person that died during the last year.

My aunt has died just a month ago, at age 93!
This sunset spectacular was like a special present from heaven.



My Last Bon Ceremony, August 15


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some comments

Oh, beautiful shots, Gabi!
I really like the haiku too... how nice to have heavenly colors added to the celebration!

.....

Lovely colours in the photo, Gabi. Looks like a good omen to me!

.....

Lovely GABI
I loved your poem and nature's gift to you with the rainbow. Lovely !

.....

Hi Gabi,
I like the haiku and the photo. The idea of 'first Bon ceremony' is interesting in that instead of being a 'first' for someone, such as a child's 'first' of some kind, it has a totally different feeling being both for the deceased and still-living family.

The skies have been beautiful here, too, the past few days.

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. WKD : Rainbow (niji 虹) Regenbogen .


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8/11/2007

autumn sunset

  
  


 
watching the sunset
my long shadow
grows
lo
o
o
o
o
oonger















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long, nagai 長

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some comments

GABI,

This haiku surprises me!
I thought you never deviate from a three line haiku?!!!
Good one!

.....

very interesting how you wrote the word longer!

.....

I like your sense of humour Gabi!
Works for me, and I usually don't care for concrete poetry. ( I think that's what it's called when you design with text) But this is easy to read and brings a smile... How long is this haiku 'moment'

.....

Reiterating: all haiku are haiku.

.....

Oh, this is delightful, Gabi... I love it!


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Effectively your visual disposition of the adjective "long" really fits the kanji transcription !

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Read my Haiku Archives 2007


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8/10/2007

Kannon Bosatsu

  
  



思いのまま 宝をくれる 仏かな



Click for more information !




omoi no mama takara o kureru hotoke kana









"Omoi no mama ni takara o kureru hotoke-san"

As a Buddhist sculptor and conservator of many Japanese works of art, including National Treasures, and an Esoteric priest of the Tendai school, Nishimura Kocho has special access to icons such as the Nyoirin Kannon-- and special control over their interpretation.
Pilgrims beseech the Nyoirin Kannon for blessings through the power of the "wish-granting gem" held in the innermost right hand of its six arms.

CANONIZING KANNON:
THE NINTH-CENTURY ESOTERIC BUDDHIST ALTAR AT KANSHINJI
source : www.westga.edu


Nyoirin Kannon, Temple Kanshin-Ji - CLICK for more photos !



My Page
Dedicated to Nishimura Kocho, Master Carver

Nishimura Koochoo 西村公朝, 仏師



Nyoirin Kannon
Daruma Museum



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Kannon with a thousand arms
Senju Kannon 千手観音




Thanks to some friends, we have English verisons


it grants me
whatever I wish –
this Buddha

Janice

...

giving me gifts
as she wishes--
Kwannon

or

ask this Buddha
and ye shall
receive

Jesus in the New Testament (King James translation of the bible) which may be applicable here: "Ask, and ye shall receive."

Larry


ask this Buddha
and you shall
receive

"ask and it shall be given [un]to you"

Isabelle


as he likes
giving me treasures
Buddha

sakuo


if I ask
this buddha answers
my prayers

bob




summer dreams -
ask this Buddha and
you shall receive




summer dreams -
this Buddha gives all treasures
in abundance


Gabi


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. Kannon Bosatsu 観音菩薩 .



Read my Haiku Archives


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Evening clouds

  
  






 
evening clouds -
my valley vibrates
in colors





CLICK to look at more PHOTOS !






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... Clouds in my Haiku Valley ...



Read my Haiku Archives 2007


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8/07/2007

Beetle visitor

  
  









ghost stories -
a silhouette and then
a peeking face









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CLICK for more photos !CLICK  for more photos !CLICK for more photos !







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In Summer in Japan it is custom to tell stories about Ghosts and gruesome events, so people will get a chill from it to keep cool.


My Ghost Stories from 2005



Wenn du Zen erfassen möchtest,
musst du dich mit fragenden Zweifel nach innen wenden
und es mit aller Eindringlichkeit erforschen.
Ist dein fragender Zweifel tief genug,
so erscheint die transzendente Weisheit.

Foyan




autumn deepens
and I wonder,
what is my neighbour doing?



. Autumn deepens .


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8/04/2007

Typhoon Usagi

  
  









tpyhoon usagi -
a wild rabbit leaves
its wet footprints









Rainclouds over Japan
© Photo: YAHOO 台風情報


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台風5号
My Japanese LINK with more photos !



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BBC UK NEWS
Last Updated: Friday, 3 August 2007


Typhoon Usagi hits southern Japan

Eighteen people were injured and thousands sought shelter as Typhoon Usagi struck Japan's southern island of Kyushu.
The typhoon made landfall late on Thursday, bringing winds of up to 180 km/h (110mph).

It cut power to thousands of homes and felled trees. Bullet trains from the main island, Honshu, were suspended.

Usagi is moving northwards, but it has weakened and meteorologists have now downgraded it to a tropical storm.

Television footage showed uprooted trees and flooded rivers. A number of flights were cancelled.

Among the injured was an 81-year-old woman in the southern prefecture of Kagoshima who was blown over and broke her thigh, a local official said.
A postman was injured after wind overturned his van, another official said. Two people were reportedly hurt in falls from roofs.

In the hardest-hit areas, families and the elderly took refuge in municipal shelters.

Usagi, which means rabbit in Japanese, is the second major storm to hit Japan this season.
In July, Typhoon Man-yi left three people dead when it struck Kyushu and neighbouring island Shikoku.

 © news.bbc.co.uk

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TYPHOON, a kigo for haiku


Read my Haiku Archives 2007


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