inspired by Issa - One Sparkling bird song
cacophony of bird chirps
one sparkling song
that i really love
inspired by
even in the thicket
beyond the bramble gate
a little chrysanthemum
-Issa,1804
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo

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Inspired by Issa - Chrysanthemum
out of the chrysanthemum
three inchworms doing
a glide dance
too bright a stage
for these inchworms' glide dance
the chrysanthemum
inspired by
carefully measured
by the inchworm...
chrysanthemum
-Issa,1821
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo

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Inspired by Issa - Altar food
sticking to to Buddha's
be compassionate dictum
he lets rat nibble at altar food
inspired by
while praising Buddha
with wide-open mouth...
a thicket mosquito
-Issa,1816
http: //cat.xula.edu/issa/
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo

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Inspired by Issa - the little tub
the little tub
splashes of a three year old
spring wind
inspired by
the little tub's
braided bamboo is green...
spring breeze
-Issa,1804
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo

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Inspired by Issa - Summer Kimono
an euption in my heart
the splendid kimono
the six figure price
inspired by
even trying on my summer kimono
lonely...
Eastern Mountains
-Issa,1804
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo

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The Green Thicket
All in a green thicket I heard a bird sing,
And blithe though his song was it made the tears spring,
To hear a bird sing as he swung on his spray,
All in a green thicket at break of the day.
All in a green thicket his song it did pour
That told of the Springs that shall come nevermore,
That sang of sweet blossoms, now faded and dry,
All in a green thicket in Aprils gone by.
All in a green thicket that morning in Spring,
I smelt the sharp scent of each young growing thing,
I smelt the sweet herbage all drowned with the dew,
And the time that's gone from me was with me anew.
All in a green thicket at break of the day
It was like the dear voice of a friend far away,
It was like the kind touch of a hand that I know,
And the smile and the tears of dead Aprils ago,
All in a green thicket one morning in Spring,
For to smell the young woodland and hear the bird sing,
Oh, long did I loiter and dream by the way,
All in a green thicket at break of the day.
poem by Cicely Fox Smith

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Inspired by Issa - Loving mood
loving mood
one rose rests
on the other
the above by john tiong chunghoo
inspired by
in unlevel hedge, too
in bloom...
roses of Sharon
-Issa,1804
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo

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In the thicket's shade
In the thicket's shade
a woman by herself
singing the rice-planting song.
Translated by Robert Hass
poem by Kobayashi Issa

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Inspired by Issa - While i was away
just a little while
to live
a little while
to die
slit in between
a drama
of senses
inspired by
while I was away
just for a while...
a splendid young bamboo!
-Issa,1819
http: //cat.xula.edu/issa/
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo

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Inspired by Issa - Wisteria Trellis
morning glory
two yellow butterflies'
frolicking flight
inspired by Issa's
wisteria trellis-
behind it, in the light
wildflowers
-Issa,1809
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo

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Inspired by Issa - Abandoned nest
chirp, just one chirp
mom comes with feed
for chick
abandon nest
mother bird and its chick
having grown up
inspired by
alone he cries
the motherless bird...
autumn dusk
-Issa,1803
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo

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Inspired by Issa - In the lightning
taming desires
so may faces
the buddha
inspired by
in the lightning
how he laughs...
Buddha!
-Issa,1814
http: //cat.xula.edu/issa/
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo

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Our Bird In Your Cage
we have this bird
we both own it and love it and care for it
our bird
and you have this cage
that you only own
golden, new and strong and as you say it
so reliable
that when our bird is in that cage
it will be safe
and cannot escape
we feed this bird together
and give it water and birdseeds
and a place of twigs and swing
where the bird can play
and perch upon
like it is on a tree
days and years
we keep this bird in your cage
and we see it is dying
and wanting to be free
yet you say, this sickness is just temporary
time heals what has wounded it
and shall forget the power of its wings
days and more years
we keep this bird in your cage
and i have not listened at all
to the sad song of that bird
her waning chirps
her weakened wings
her way of losing hold to the dreams of its wings
today we see this bird is dead
but you have no sadness at all
you say, you will buy another bird
again to be kept in your cage
i could have told you
i am the bird in your cage and i too have forgotten the power of
my wings
i could have told you, i have long died
and have forgotten what freedom is, what love is, what i am
in the first place. How can i ever tell you?
you are my cage.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa

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Inspired by Issa - Lucky Gate
lucky gate
opposite house's buddha
oversees it
inspired by
on the lucky Eighth Day
of Fourth Month...
a mountain cuckoo
-Issa,1814
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo

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Remembering Issa - Nightingale arrives
the owl watches
the forest floor
eyes wide as the moon
excited owl
the mice runs
in its eyes
inspired by Issa's
the nightingale aims
and arrives...
my fence
-Issa,1806
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo

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Inspired by Issa - Cycle of births
the cycle of births
from my hand, a pigeon pecks peas
grain by grain
inspired by
grains of rice
pecked by birds...
my futon
-Issa,1814
http: //cat.xula.edu/issa/
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo

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The Sparrow
A LITTLE bird, with plumage brown,
Beside my window flutters down,
A moment chirps its little strain,
Then taps upon my window-pane,
And chirps again, and hops along,
To call my notice to its song;
But I work on, nor heed its lay,
Till, in neglect, it flies away.
So birds of peace and hope and love
Come fluttering earthward from above,
To settle on life's window-sills,
And ease our load of earthly ills;
But we, in traffic's rush and din
Too deep engaged to let them in,
With deadened heart and sense plod on,
Nor know our loss till they are gone.
poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar

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Inspired by Issa - Cornerstone
new cornerstone -
all around black soft
tapoles flail
inspired by
cornerstone-
on New Year's morning
a bird without a nest
-Issa,1809
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo

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Two Songs
A BEE that was searching for sweets one day
Through the gate of a rose garden happened to stray.
In the heart of a rose he hid away,
And forgot in his bliss the light of day,
As sipping his honey he buzzed in song;
Though day was waning, he lingered long,
For the rose was sweet, so sweet.
A robin sits pluming his ruddy breast,
And a madrigal sings to his love in her nest:
'Oh, the skies they are blue, the fields are green,
And the birds in your nest will soon be seen!'
She hangs on his words with a thrill of love,
And chirps to him as he sits above,
For the song is sweet, so sweet.
A maiden was out on a summer's day
With the winds and the waves and the flowers at play;
And she met with a youth of gentle air,
With the light of the sunshine on his hair.
Together they wandered the flowers among;
They loved, and loving they lingered long,
For to love is sweet, so sweet.
BIRD of my lady's bower,
Sing her a song;
Tell her that every hour,
All the day long,
Thoughts of her come to me,
Filling my brain
With the warm ecstasy
Of love's refrain.
Little bird! happy bird!
Being so near,
Where e'en her slightest word
Thou mayest hear,
Seeing her glancing eyes,
Sheen of her hair,
Thou art in paradise, —
Would I were there.
I am so far away,
Thou art so near;
Plead with her, birdling gay,
Plead with my dear.
Rich be thy recompense,
Fine be thy fee,
If through thine eloquence
She hearken me.
poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar

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Inspired by Issa - On New Year's Day
New Year's Day
the same old feeling
of new year returns
inspired by
on New Year's Day
copying me?
bird without a nest
-Issa,1809
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo

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Inspired by Issa - Prayers
all the lotuses
aides in
my prayers
tanka:
the lotuses have fully
bloomed to
embrace the sky
like my heart after the
dawn prayers
blossomed
inspired by
this day-
even stirring gruel
is a prayer!
-Issa,1814
http: //cat.xula.edu/issa/
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo

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