Haikus: April 2008

HAIKUS: April 2008

By Peter Y. Chou
WisdomPortal.com

These haikus were written as exercises in mindfulness—
an attempt to catch the fleeting moment in my daily walks,
while reading, listening to music, and pondering about life.
(Underlined words are not for emphasis but to web links.)
This web page best viewed with Times font size 14.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008, 11:09-11:20 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov,
Scheherazade, Op. 35, (Listen), CD, YouTube
3rd Movement, "Young Prince & Princess" (1888)

Idyllic music
for the young prince & princess
whose hearts are on fire. Tuesday, April 1, 2008, 2:00-3:00 pm
Gentle Dental, 3920 Middlefield Road,
Palo Alto, Checkup with Dr. John R. Glerum
Asssistant Alex takes 18 x-rays of my teeth

18 X-ray scans
of all my teeth and gum
and they found no bugs!

Wednesday, April 2, 2008, 11:10-11:23 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Sir Georg Solti conducts
Beethoven, Egmont Overture, Op. 84 (1810),
(Listen), CD, YouTube

Music inspired by
Goethe's play & Hoffmann's poem
to honor Count Egmont. Wednesday, April 2, 2008, 11:51-11:59 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Maxim Vengerov plays
Jules Massenet, (Listen), CD, YouTube
Thaïs: Meditation, (1894)

Meditation is
not denying the world
but finding who you are.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008, 3:15-6:05 pm
Building 460, Room 334, Stanford University
Robert Bly, Mohr Visiting Poet
"The Occasions of Poetry" Workshop

Fifteen students here
for Bly's workshop listening
like Ryoanji rocks. Wednesday, April 2, 2008, 3:15-6:05 pm
Building 460, Room 334, Stanford University
Robert Bly, Mohr Visiting Poet
Bly reads haikus of Basho & Issa

Haikus cut us down
so we see how grandiose
is the universe.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008, 4:53 pm
Memorial Court, Stanford University
Robert Bly gives class 15-minute break
and tells us to write two haikus outdoors.

Clouds made Sun misty
so my eyes can gaze at it
and find a white pearl. Wednesday, April 2, 2008, 4:58 pm
Memorial Court, Stanford University
Drinking fountain with mosaic Viking ship in
memoriam: Harold Hatch McAllister (1904-1925)

Twelve pebbles inside
fountain— crew for mosaic
Viking ship sailing?

Thursday, April 3, 2008, 11:31-11:45 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Lang Lang plays
Robert Schumann, Kinderszenen, Op. 15: #7, Träumerei (Dreaming) (1838),
(Listen), CD, YouTube

Dream scenes from childhood—
Schumann's music brings us back
where trees talk again. Thursday, April 3, 2008, 3:32-3:40 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Yo-Yo Ma & Emanuel Ax
play Franz Schubert,
"Trout" Quintet in A (1819)
(Listen), CD, YouTube

The stream wakes us up
from our dream— we feel alive
when a trout leaps out!

Thursday, April 3, 2008, 8:00 pm
Green Library, Stanford University
Reading Darrell Brown's Blog
on song writing, The Three H's
(New York Times, April 2, 2008)

To write a good song—
Honesty, humanity,
and hooks for a hit! Thursday, April 3, 2008, 10:00 pm
Green Library, Stanford University
Reading Terrence Rafferty's article on Bette Davis
"The Bold and the Bad and the Bumpy Nights", (New York Times, March 30, 2008)

Clicking her high heels,
she spits out bullets of fire
striking us speechless!

Friday, April 4, 2008, 11:43-11:59 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Maurice Ravel,
Boléro (1928),
(Listen), CD, YouTube

The storm is coming—
animals trek two by two
climbing up Noah's Ark. Friday, April 4, 2008, 1:28-1:35 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Georges Bizet,
Carmen Suite #1 "Les toréadors" (1875)
(Listen), CD, YouTube

The toreadors march
to the bull ring as crowd
roars for blood, blood, blood!

Friday, April 4, 2008, 7:30-8:55 pm
Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto,
Bette Davis & Leslie Howard in
John Cromwell's "Of Human Bondage" (1934)

Mildred was heartless
to him yet Philip still loved
her with heart of gold. Friday, April 4, 2008, 9:05-10:50 pm
Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto,
Bette Davis & Henry Fonda in
William Wyler's "Jezebel" (1938)

Pride before the fall—
At the White Ball she wore red!
Too late to turn back!

Saturday, April 5, 2008, 12:36-12:48 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Lara Downes plays
Karl Maria von Weber, Invitation to the Dance, Op. 65 (1841), Downes Notes on Dance, (Listen),
CD, YouTube (* Size of proton & electron *)

Will you dance with me
said Proton to Electron?
Sure— but you're so big! Saturday, April 5, 2008, 1:05-1:29 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Julia Fischer plays
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,
Violin Concerto #3 in G, K.216 (1775)
Listen, CD, YouTube (Wordsworth's "Daffodils")

Mozart's violin strings
float us to the clouds where
we see the daffodils.

Sunday, April 6, 2008, 11:43-11:49 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: George Frederick Handel,
The Faithful Shepherd Suite (1712), (Listen) (CD)
(* Dante on Faith, "Paradiso" XXIV *)

The faithful shepherd
knows his lost sheep will return—
so he waits and waits. Sunday, April 6, 2008, 12:48-12:53 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: John Williams,
Superman: Main Title (1978)
(Listen), CD, YouTube

John Williams music
from Superman soars in space.
Yes— you can fly too!

Sunday, April 6, 2008, 8:00 pm
Green Library, Stanford University
Reading Olav H. Hauge's "Barley Field"
in Poetry, April 2008 (Ann's gift yesterday)

No scythes harvesting
the barley field that looks
like an ocean of gold. Sunday, April 6, 2008, 11:00 pm
Green Library, Stanford University
Composing Olav H. Hauge web page
with his Zen-like landscape poems

Bring me just a hint—
as birds carry a dewdrop
and winds a grain of salt.

Monday, April 7, 2008, 11:39-11:54 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Janine Jansen plays
Max Bruch, Finale (3rd movement),
Violin Concerto #1 in G minor, Op.26 (1867),
(Listen) (CD), YouTube (* Descartes' Dreams *)

Whirlwind sweeps Descartes
to town square where a maiden
gives him a melon. Monday, April 7, 2008, 12:10-12:18 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Michael Tilson Thomas
conducts Gustav Mahler, 2nd Movement,
Symphony #1 in D minor, "Titan" (1896)
Listen, CD, YouTube

Spring blooms in song of
Earth as funeral march plays
for Old Man Winter.

Monday, April 7, 2008, 1:00-2:30 pm
Mountain View & Palo Alto
Friend takes me grocery shopping at
Longs, Walgren, Milk Pail, Safeway

Vitamins, almonds,
alfafa sprouts, red pepper,
muesli, salmon fillets,
pomegranate juice. Monday, April 7, 2008, 8:00-9:20 pm
Hewlett Teaching Center, Room 200, Stanford
Prof. Larry F. Abbott, Columbia University,
2008 Robert Hofstadter Memorial Lecture
"Remembering the Future, Predicting the Past"

How cells store, retain,
recall memories so we
can predict the future.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008, 7:00 am
Mountain View: Home in bed recalling
Dream of buying a Bullseye cancelled
stamp for my collection of Dated stamps,
and having no regrets for there's no loss.

Bought rare stamp which vanished
when I woke— that's OK,
I paid in dream cash. Tuesday, April 8, 2008, 12:48-1:05 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Bernard Haitink
conducts Johannes Brahms, Finale,
Symphony #1 in C minor, Op. 68 (1876)
Listen, CD, YouTube

Hint of Beethoven's Ninth
in Brahms' First Symphony
to honor the master.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008, 12:00-12:08 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Stuart Mitchell,
"Statue of Zeus at Olympia"
in "Seven Wonders of the Ancient World" (2001)
Listen, CD, YouTube

If Zeus is a God
why he needs to shape-shift
to fulfill his desires? Wednesday, April 9, 2008, 2:50 pm
Green Library, Stanford University
Pat Summitt's 8th NCAA championship win
(New York Times, 4-9-2008). When she lost
her first game in 1974, Pat's Dad told her:

When you are running
in the Kentucky Derby—
Don't bring a donkey!

Wednesday, April 9, 2008, 3:15-6:00 pm
Building 460, Room 334, Stanford University
Robert Bly, Poetry Workshop: Bly reads
Hafiz & Kabir. Talks about soul & spirit

Soul descends, is wet
like water. Spirit ascends
and is dry like fire. Wednesday, April 9, 2008, 4:22 pm
Memorial Court, Stanford University
Reflecting on Robert Bly's question
"What is the new love?" after a Kabir poem

What is the new love
that opens the gates?—
Dante's La Vita Nuova.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008, 4:40-4:55 pm
Building 460, Room 334, Stanford University
Robert Bly's 15-minutes Poetry Writing Exercise:
"Friend— wake up! why do you go on sleeping"

Learn from Dante who
soared from the dark to the light.
Friend— Wake up! Wake up! Wednesday, April 9, 2008, 3:15-6:00 pm
Building 460, Room 334, Stanford University
Poetry Workshop: Robert Bly tells the class
to write something in the morning each day.

Put crazy things together.
Don't let critic come in.
Let wild one speak the truth.

Thursday, April 10, 2008, 1:02-1:35 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Janine Jansen
conducts Felix Mendelssohn,
Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 (1845)
Listen, CD, YouTube

All three movements linked
together to heighten
the feeling of romance. Thursday, April 10, 2008, 4:48 pm
Galvez Street & El Camino Real
Large Ad Placard on Wired Fence:
Woman in yoga meditation pose
"Make Time For You" (BeWell.stanford.edu)

"Make Time For You!" says
the ad— But time traps us,
why are we making more?

Thursday, April 10, 2008, 5:25 pm
Center for Integrated Systems, Stanford University
Stanford Art Spaces Exhibit (Feb. 15-April 10)
Kent Manske, "25 Concerns" (2005)

Man ponders from head
to heart on God, truth, war, peace,
broken dreams and hope. Thursday, April 10, 2008, 6:00 pm
Center for Integrated Systems, Stanford University
Stanford Art Spaces Exhibit (Feb. 15-April 10)
Kent Manske, "Treeman"

Tree Man's brain neurons
glow like white ferns as seven
leaves sprout from his head.

Friday, April 11, 2008, 10:45-10:55 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Sarah Chang
conducts Pablo de Sarasate,
Zigeunerweisen, Gypsy Airs, Op. 20 (1878)
Listen, CD, YouTube

Faster and faster—
dancers can't keep up with his
tunes sweeping like fire. Friday, April 11, 2008, 11:01-11:06 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Jeffrey Tate
conducts Franz Joseph Haydn,
Symphony #94 in G "Surprise" (1791)
Listen, CD, YouTube

See a wondrous
miracle each day— Freshen
your mind with surprise!

Friday, April 11, 2008, 2:55 pm
Outside Bing Wing, Stanford Green Library
Seeing a tiny sparrow drink in water puddle
as ripples grow in concentric circles

Each time sparrow drinks,
the ripples expand outward—
OOOO water chakra! Friday, April 11, 2008, 4:11 pm
Green Library, Stanford University
15th Birthday Web Page
for my niece Marissa

In your 15th year—
may adventurous learning
bring you much joy!

Saturday, April 12, 2008, 10:20-10:30 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Carlo Maria Giulini
conducts Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,
Don Giovanni, K 527: Overture (1787)
Listen, CD, YouTube, (Notes 1, Notes 2)

Repeated knockings—
muffled drumrolls announcing
"Stone Statue is here!" Saturday, April 12, 2008, 10:45-10:55 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Hilary Hahn
plays Ludwig van Beethoven,
Violin Concerto in D, Op. 61 (1806)
Listen, CD, YouTube, Notes

Beauty is flowing
from Beethoven's mind to her
fingers on the strings.

Saturday, April 12, 2008, 11:15-11:24 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Philippe Herreweghe
plays Robert Schumann,
Symphony #3 in E-Flat, Op. 97 "Rhenish" (1850)
Listen, CD, YouTube

Lovely sunny day
cruising down the Rhine
enjoying a glass of wine. Saturday, April 12, 2008, 11:32-11:38 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Sarah Chang
plays Jules Massenet,
Thais: Meditation (1894)
Listen, CD, YouTube

Meditation is
prayer— finding peace that
passeth all understanding.

Saturday, April 12, 2008, 12:45 pm
Alvarado Row & Campus Drive East
A blonde Stanford student smiles at me
after boarding Stanford Shuttle Bus.

She hops on the bus
with her crutches and smiles
bursts of radiant sunshine. Saturday, April 12, 2008, 1:00 pm
Outside Bing Wing, Stanford Green Library
Brought camera for yesterday's Kodak moment
but both sparrow and the puddle are gone!

The puddle is gone,
so is the drinking sparrow—
Time waits for no one!

Sunday, April 13, 2008, 10:23-10:32 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: James Ehnes
plays Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,
Violin Concerto #3 in G, K.216 (1775)
Listen, CD, YouTube

Playing Mozart on
his old Stradivarius—
chocolate to the ear. Sunday, April 13, 2008, 10:32-10:39 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Shura Cherkassky
conducts Anton Rubinstein,
Melodie in F for Piano, Op. 3 (1852)
Listen, CD, YouTube

Children at the beach
building sand castles while
waves flow in like music.

Sunday, April 13, 2008, 4:35-5:55 pm
Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto,
Bette Davis & George Arliss in John G. Adolfi's
"The Man Who Played God" (1932)

He lip-reads people
with his spyglass and helps
them as if he were God. Sunday, April 13, 2008, 6:05-7:20 pm
Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto,
Bette Davis & Warren William in
Alfred E. Green's "The Dark Horse" (1932)

Politicians say
things just to win votes—
can't speak the truth like poets.

Monday, April 14, 2008, 11:45-11:59 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Nelson Freire
plays Ludwig van Beethoven (1801),
Piano Sonata #14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 "Moonlight"
Listen, CD, YouTube, Analysis

Beethoven's Moonlight—
new waves ebb softly, then
grow full to raging storm. Monday, April 14, 2008, 1:05-1:40 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Leif Ove Andsnes
plays Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,
Piano Concerto #20 in D-minor, K. 466 (1785)
Listen, CD, YouTube

Rubinstein played this
on my vinyl record so
full of leaping joy!

Monday, April 14, 2008, 7:00-8:18 pm
Stanford Law School, Room 290
Marina Warner, "The Voice of the Toy:
Writing Magic & Enchanted States"

The Jinn will grant your
wish. Beware of what you ask—
It may be lethal! Monday, April 14, 2008, 7:00-8:18 pm
Stanford Law School, Room 290
Marina Warner, "The Voice of the Toy"
(Temptation of Christ by a Jinn?)

Was that a Jinn who
tempted Christ in the desert?
Wise that he said no!

Monday, April 14, 2008, 7:00-8:18 pm
Stanford Law School, Room 290
Marina Warner, "The Voice of the Toy"—
Talisman came from the Arabic (1638)

Talisman comes from
telos or goal— amulet
bringing you good luck. Monday, April 14, 2008, 7:00-8:18 pm
Stanford Law School, Room 290
Marina Warner, "The Voice of the Toy:
Writing Magic & Enchanted States"

The magic carpet
takes us to enchanted worlds—
to Forever Land!

Tuesday, April 15, 2008, 4:30 am
Home in Mountain View doing
Federal & State income tax

Procrastination!
Waited till the last minute—
did it in two hours. Tuesday, April 15, 2008, 1:00-2:30 pm
Mountain View: Friend takes me grocery
shopping at Trader Joe's and Safeway

Eggs, sesame sticks,
shrimp, salmon fillets, Swiss cheese,
pecan cookies and milk.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008, 12:26-12:32 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Laurent Korcia
plays Maurice Ravel / Isaac Albeniz,
In the Style of a Habanera; Tango (1907)
Listen, CD, YouTube, Habanera

Ravel plays a tune
from Bizet's Carmen fit for
Argentine tango. Tuesday, April 15, 2008, 4:00-5:35 pm
Stanford Humanities Center: Marina Warner,
Discussion: "The Voice of the Toy"—
Cites Wallace Stevens' poem
"The Pure Good of Theory" (1947)

The nicer knowledge
of Belief, that what it
believes in is not true.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008, 4:00-5:35 pm
Stanford Humanities Center: Marina Warner,
Discussion: "The Voice of the Toy"—
Contrasts Shamanism with Manism, saying that
André Breton wants to be a shaman, be in charge

She prefers manism—
magic enchantment without
the mastery trip. Tuesday, April 15, 2008, 4:00-5:35 pm
Stanford Humanities Center: Marina Warner,
Discussion: "The Voice of the Toy"—
Shows flying horse scene of Lotte Reiniger's
"Adventures of Prince Achmed" (1926)

Kinetic shadow play—
Prince on flying horse
lands on Wak-Wak Island.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 1:50 am
KSFO 560 AM: Coast-to-Coast AM
George Noory interviews Bill Guggenheim
"After-Death Communication"
Book: "Hello From Heaven!"

Grandma comes to talk
to him and left through the wall
in a mist of smoke. Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 3:20 am
KSFO 560 AM: Coast-to-Coast AM
George Noory interviews Bill Guggenheim
"After-Death Communication"— Story of
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross & her dead patient (NDE).

Her patient who died
ten months ago comes to her—
"Don't stop this work now!"

Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 11:49-11:54 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky,
Sleeping Beauty: Waltz, Op. 66 (1889)
Listen, CD, YouTube

The Sleeping Beauty
inside is a serpent— when
it wakes, you'll be wise. Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 12:07-12:30 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Ralph Vaughn Williams,
"Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis" (1910)
Listen, CD, YouTube

Fantasia— where we
suspend our disbelief so
to be enchanted.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 1:55 pm
Cummings Art Building, Stanford University
Student sitting inside Henry Moore's
sculpture "Large Torso Arch"

She sits inside Moore's
Large Torso Arch resting like
the sheep seeking shade. Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 3:15-6:05 pm
Building 460, Room 334, Stanford University
Robert Bly's Poetry Workshop
Bly reads "Mirabai: Ecstatic Poems"

Mirabai is brave
to jump into the Lotus
and be swallowed whole.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 4:48-4:55 pm
Building 460, Room 334, Stanford University
Robert Bly's 7-minutes Poetry Writing Exercise:
"In my dream the Great One married me"

After the Big Bang, chaos everywhere.
I, an electron ignored by everyone.
Then a proton came. He was so big—
He was the Great One that married me! Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 6:45-8:00 pm
Banner Hall, Jackson Lounge, Stanford University
Prof. Hilton Obenzinger discusses his new book
"Busy Dying" on 1968 Columbia students protest

Students occupied Low Library—
Cops coming to crack some skulls.
Kenneth Koch chuckled up at us:
"Did you write any poems?"

Thursday, April 17, 2008, 11:44-11:53 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: David Jolley
plays Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,
Horn Concerto #1 in D, K.412 (1791)
Listen, CD, YouTube

Horn blasts wake me up—
In palatial ball dancing
the Virginia Reel. Thursday, April 17, 2008, 1:02-1:39 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Herbert Blomstedt conducts Felix Mendelssohn (1842)
Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 56, "Scottish"
Listen, CD, YouTube

Grandfather Moses
would have been so proud
of Felix as his grandson.

Thursday, April 17, 2008, 3:30 pm
Barchas Room, Stanford Green Library
Green Tea Talk: Annette Keogh,
"The John Steinbeck Collection"

Steinbeck gave his typed
copy of Nobel Speech to
Dook (Carlton Sheffield). Thursday, April 17, 2008, 3:30 pm
Barchas Room, Stanford Green Library
Green Tea Talk: Annette Keogh,
"The John Steinbeck Collection"

Steinbeck's Gold Medal—
Literature Nobel Prize
is here at Stanford.

Thursday, April 17, 2008, 4:15-5:35 pm
Stanford Math Corner, Building 380, Room 380C
Leonard Susskind, Dept. of Physics
Symbolic System Forum:
"Boltzmann Brains"

Boltzmann Brains are quite
queer as they do away with
evolutionary history. Thursday, April 17, 2008, 5:30-7:00 pm
Cummings Art Building, Room AR2
Stephen Campbell, Art History Lecture:
"Andrea Mantegna circa 1460:
Imitation and the Force of Images" (NY Times)

Mantegna's San Zeno—
Christ Child's face modelled
after Donatello's.

Friday, April 18, 2008, 10:43 am
Home in Mountain View: Awakened
by giant orange truck cutting tree
branches and grinding them.

Morning music drowned
out by tree-grinding noise—
the trees are crying! Friday, April 18, 2008, 11:53-11:59 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: George Frideric Handel
Minuet for Finale of "Water Music" (1717)
Listen, CD, YouTube

Royal barge on the Thames
for the King as Handel's tunes
played the minuet.

Friday, April 18, 2008, 1:02-1:36 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Sergei Rachmaninoff,
Piano Concerto #2, Op. 18 (1901)
Listen, CD, YouTube

The hypnotist Dahl
cured his writer's block with
"You'll write beautiful music." Friday, April 18, 2008, 1:36 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Sergei Rachmaninoff,
Piano Concerto #2, Op. 18 (1901)
Listen, CD, YouTube

Music that lifts you
up, up, up to a star where
all your dreams come true.

Saturday, April 19, 2008, 10:10-10:17 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Leonard Bernstein
conducts Ludwig van Beethoven,
Symphony #3 in Eb, Op. 55 "Eroica" (1803)
Listen, CD, YouTube

Beethoven's Eroica
is like Columbus
discovering New World. Saturday, April 19, 2008, 11:09-11:14 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Jean-Yves Thibaudet
plays Frederic Chopin, Waltz #1 in Eb,
Op. 18 "Grande Valse Brillante" (1831)
Listen, CD, YouTube, Chopin Letter

A slow waltz around
the room with chandeliers
and dancers sparkling.

Saturday, April 19, 2008, 11:15 am-12:10 pm
Mountain View & Palo Alto: Friend takes me
grocery shopping at Long's and Walgreen

Vitamin C, deluxe nuts,
vanilla extract and
Italian seasoning. Saturday, April 19, 2008, 4:00-6:00 pm
Green Library, Stanford University
Composing web page on Mirabai's Poetry

Mirabai is the partridge
that swallows hot coals
for love of the moon.

Saturday, April 19, 2008, 6:16 pm
Pondering on Stanford Express Shuttle
Bus going home to Mountain View on
how people measure another's knowledge

She tells me "You know
so much!"— I say "Not as deep
as your Consciousness!" Saturday, April 19, 2008, 8:24 pm
Latham Street & Showers Drive, Mountain View
Waiting for Bus #35 to go dancing, and watching
Full Moon shining directly on Latham Street

Hi! April's Full Moon—
Frog Moon, Pink Moon, Planter's Moon—
You shine on my street.

Sunday, April 20, 2008, 11:23-11:27 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Pietro Mascagni,
Cavalleria Rusticana: Intermezzo (1889)
Listen, CD, YouTube

Opera of passion—
Lovers swept away wounded
by stormy emotions. Sunday, April 20, 2008, 1:30-2:00 pm
2585 California Street, Mountain View:
Friend takes me grocery shopping
at Milk Pail for veggies & fruits

Orange bell peppers,
alfafa sprouts, green onions,
and juicy black grapes.

Sunday, April 20, 2008, 7:30-8:15 pm
Green Library, Stanford University
Reading four 3/30 articles on "Yankee Stadium":
1958 NFL Championship Game (Colts vs. Giants)
(David Anderson, NY Times, Mar. 30, 2008)

Johnny Unitas:
"When you know what you're doing,
you don't get intercepted." Sunday, April 20, 2008, 10:09-11:45 pm
Cubberley Auditorium, Stanford Flicks:
Jason Reitman directs "Juno" (2007)
starring Ellen Page, Michael Cera,
Jennifer Garner, & Jason Bateman

Teen-age pregnacy—
adopting couple decides
on getting divorce.

Monday, April 21, 2008, 12:53-1:02 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Giacomo Puccini,
Madama Butterfly: Un Bel Di (1904)
Listen, CD, YouTube

One fine day we shall
see ship sails for home—
Is her husband coming back? Monday, April 21, 2008, 1:30-2:30 pm
Mountain View, Friend takes me to Post Office
for stamps & New Castro Street Market
for grocery shopping of Chinese food.

Lotus root, bok choy,
hard tofu, bean curd, fish balls,
and mushroom dumplings.

Monday, April 21, 2008, 4:04 pm
Galvez Street & El Camino Real
Waiting for Stanford B-Line CCW Bus
and seeing wildflower at the corner

Blue and white flower
with star cluster at center
and star leaflets on stem. Monday, April 21, 2008, 4:22 pm
Old Union Courtyard, Stanford University
Sun casting giant shadow on palm tree
and I learn Kabbalah from the Dark Fan

Twenty-two fronds sway
like a black fan teaching
me Kabbalah secrets.

Monday, April 21, 2008, 10:00 pm
Green Library, Stanford University
Reading S. Peter Dance "Shells" Handbook
on the Sunburst Carier (Stellaria solaris)

Sunburst Carrier—
spiral whorls of splendor
shell of rising sun. Monday, April 21, 2008, 11:30 pm
Green Library, Stanford University
Searching for Coral Mandala Fossil
and finding Orange Cup Coral

Orange Cup Coral
waves translucent tentacles
in the dark Red Sea.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008, 11:26-11:40 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Sir Thomas Beecham
conducts Franz Joseph Haydn,
Symphony #101 in D "Clock" (1794)
Listen, CD, YouTube

Clock's tick-tock, tick-tock:
seconds, minutes, hours go by—
Where are they going? Tuesday, April 22, 2008, 1:56 pm
Reading on Bus #22 to Portage Ave, Palo Alto
R.H. Blyth's 4 volumes "Haiku" (1952)
"made possible through the kindness
and patriotism of Naoto Ichimada"

Blyth's Haiku published
with help of Ichimada—
Bank of Japan's Governor.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008, 2:30 pm
After buying 2GB Emprex USB drive
at Fry's, 340 Portage Ave, Palo Alto,
I take Bus #22 back home to Mountain View,
reading Blyth's "Haiku: Summer-Autumn"

Reading Basho and
Issa, I understand why
they are my true friends. Tuesday, April 22, 2008, 4:23 pm
Old Union Courtyard, Stanford University
Now that I've brought my camera for photo,
there's no giant shadow on palm tree as fuzzy
sunlight is weakened by overcast of clouds.

Same time and same place—
Palm tree casts no shadow as
sunlight lost its strength.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008, 8:00-9:08 pm
Memorial Church, Stanford University
Harry's Last Lecture on a Meaningful Life
Justice Sandra Day O'Connor: "How Purpose
& Values Lead to a Happy and Fulfilling Life"

Aimed high and worked hard—
She became the first woman
Justice of the Supreme Court. Tuesday, April 22, 2008, 8:00-9:08 pm
Memorial Church, Stanford University
Harry's Last Lecture on a Meaningful Life
Justice Sandra Day O'Connor: "How Purpose
& Values Lead to a Happy and Fulfilling Life"

Make your work better
by being more innovative—
Keep forging ahead.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008, 1:12-1:21 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Pinchas Zukerman
plays Johann Sebastian Bach,
Violin Concerto #2 in E, BWV 1042 (1717-1723)
Listen, CD, YouTube

It's drizzling out
but what a joy to hear Bach
welcoming me back home. Wednesday, April 23, 2008, 10:49-10:54 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Joshua Bell
plays Jules Massenet,
Thais: Meditation (1894)
Listen, CD, YouTube

Meditation is
not having a blank mind
but to be more mindful.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008, 3:15-6:05
Building 460, Room 334, Stanford University
Robert Bly's Poetry Workshop—
Bly reads prose poems of Louis Jenkins,
Juan Ramón Jiménez, Francis Ponge,
Mary Oliver, and Charles Baudelaire

Prose poems to focus
on objects from nature
instead of yourself. Wednesday, April 23, 2008, 4:30 pm
Oval & Quad, Stanford University
Robert Bly's Poetry Workshop Break—
Went outdoors to the Stanford Oval
and saw sky full of cumulus clouds.
Forgot to bring my camera again.

Giant cumulus clouds,
white and gray tumble aloft—
pillow fight in the sky!

Wednesday, April 23, 2008, 4:47-5:10 pm
Building 460, Room 334, Stanford University
Robert Bly's Poetry Workshop—
Prose poem exercise: "Sycamore Seed Ball"

Ouch!— these spiked balls
inspired knights to make flails
to smash armor and shields. Wednesday, April 23, 2008, 3:15-6:05
Building 460, Room 334, Stanford University
Robert Bly's Poetry Workshop—
Writing prose poems to focus on objects

Once you're true to your
object— lots of interesting
things will come to you.

Thursday, April 24, 2008, 12:24-12:32 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Franz Joseph Haydn,
Symphony #49 in F minor "La Passione" (1768)
Listen, CD, YouTube

What is your passion?—
Music, poetry, fine arts,
and everything else. Thursday, April 24, 2008, 1:00-1:36 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Ludwig van Beethoven,
Symphony #6 in F, Op. 68 "Pastoral" (1808)
Listen, CD, YouTube, Beethoven Quote

Beethoven inspired
by the beauty of Nature
around him to write.

Thursday, April 24, 2008, 4:08 pm
Riding Bus #22, El Camino, Palo Alto
Baby girl smiling from her carriage

Baby girl in her
carriage grabs her mom's hand
with laughs and giggles. Thursday, April 24, 2008, 4:46 pm
Old Union Court, Stanford University
Taking photo of palm tree's shadow.

Photo of palm's shadow
almost perfect except for
student sleeping on lawn.

Thursday, April 24, 2008, 7:30-9:10 pm
Kresge Auditorium, Stanford University
Aurora Forum: "On the Pursuit of Happiness:
An Evening with Robert Thurman & Pico Iyer

Iyer and Thurman have known
Dala Lama for 33 and 44 years—
so they speak from experience. Thursday, April 24, 2008, 7:30-9:10 pm
Kresge Auditorium, Stanford University
Aurora Forum: "On the Pursuit of Happiness:
An Evening with Robert Thurman & Pico Iyer

Nirvanic bliss comes
from the Real while ego's
happiness is transient.

Friday, April 25, 2008, 10:42-10:46 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: George Frederick Handel,
Solomon: Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (1749)
Listen, CD, YouTube

Sheba and Solomon—
She brings him gold, he gives her
a rose— even exchange. Friday, April 25, 2008, 1:00-7:10 pm
Fisher Conference Center, Arillaga Alumni Center,
Stanford 2008 Graduate Conference on Religion:
"Discourse on Approaching Transcendence"

Conference on Transcendence—
What is there to transcend
when you are awake?

Saturday, April 26, 2008, 4:22 pm
Old Union Court, Stanford University
Request co-ed student to move her shoes
and purse for my photo of palm tree.

Finally after
six days— a photo of palm
tree with its shadow. Saturday, April 26, 2008, 6:10 pm
Old Union Nitery, Stanford University
"Discourse on Approaching Transcendence"
Reflecting on the two-day conference

How lucky I am—
learning from 18 speakers
talking on "Transcendence"!

Sunday, April 27, 2008, 11:19-11:26 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,
Piano Concerto #21 in C, K.467 (1785)
Listen, CD, YouTube

When Rubinstein played
this piece, love and peace
seemed to flow everywhere. Sunday, April 27, 2008, 11:26-11:32 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: George Frederick McKay,
Meditation: Suite on 16th Century Hymn Tunes
(1942) Listen, CD

Love for the Northwest—
Mountains, fields, and streams
inspired this lovely music.

Sunday, April 27, 2008, 11:52 am-12:00 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Aram Khachaturian,
Masquerade: Romance (1944)
Listen, CD, YouTube
(Reflecting on ego and Buddha nature)

We masquerade to
hide our faults not knowing
that True Self is perfect. Sunday, April 27, 2008, 8:00-10:15 pm
Memorial Auditorium, Stanford Flicks:
Joe Wright directs "Atonement" (2007)
starring James McAvoy & Keira Knightley
based on Ian McEwan's novel "Atonement" (2001)

Author in atonement
for her childhood lie that
wrecked her sister's love.

Monday, April 28, 2008, 12:09-12:25 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Lang Lang plays Beethoven,
Rondo, Piano Concerto #1 in C, Op.15 (1795),
(Listen), CD, YouTube
Abbe Gelinek challenged Beethoven

Best Vienesse pianist
challenged the man from Bonn
in skills and Beethoven won. Monday, April 28, 2008, 12:31-12:35 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Jean-Efflam Bavouzet plays
Claude Debussy, Romantic Waltz (1890),
(Listen), CD, YouTube
Composed to please the Salon audience

Composers write to
please the public in order
to make a living.

Monday, April 28, 2008, 1:01-1:39 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Robert Schumann,
Symphony #1 in Bb, "Spring", Op. 38 (1841),
(Listen), CD, Sample, Notes

Written after he married
Clara Wieck whom he was
so much in love. Monday, April 28, 2008, 2:00-3:00 pm
Mountain View: Friend takes me grocery
shopping at Milk Pail and Safeway

Cherry tomatoes,
green grapes, baby carrots,
canned albacore tuna,
salmon fillets and milk.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008, 10:51-11:01 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Garrick Ohlsson
plays Frederic Chopin,
Waltz #1 in E-Flat, Op,18 (1833),
(Listen), CD, YouTube

Waking to Chopin's
Grande Valse Brillante and
dancing back into a dream. Tuesday, April 29, 2008, 1:00-1:37 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Lang Lang
plays Ludwig van Beethoven,
Piano Concerto #4 in G, Op.58 (1806),
(Listen), CD, YouTube

Triumphant march starts
it off— Hold your head high
for we're linked to the stars.

Wednesday, April 30, 2008, 10:13-10:28 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Franz Schubert,
Rosamunde Ballet Music #2, Op. 26 (1823),
(Listen), CD, YouTube

The child is asleep—
His toy soldiers are awake
dancing in his dream. Wednesday, April 30, 2008, 10:28-10:43 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Jacques Offenbach,
Orpheus in the Underworld Overture (1874),
(Listen), CD, YouTube

Eurydice— come back
to me! He sings to move
Hades to release her.

Wednesday, April 30, 2008, 1:00-2:30 pm
Art Library, Stanford University
Writing prose poem for Robert Bly's
class on "Deodar Cedar Rosebud"

Concentric petals,
so soul-like and centered—
ready for the Great Work. Wednesday, April 30, 2008, 3:15-6:00 pm
Building 460, Room 334, Stanford University
Robert Bly's Poetry Workshop— Ramage poems
of eight lines focusing on vowel sounds

The vowel watcher
in the ivory tower
observing Orion.