Haikus: May 2008

HAIKUS: May 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.

Thursday, May 1, 2008, 2:01-2:04 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Charles Gounod,
Romeo and Juliet: Juliet's Dream (1867)
(Listen), CD, YouTube

Juliet's dream—
sweet reveries of Romeo
before sorrow wakes her. Thursday, May 1, 2008, 2:08-2:23 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov,
Scheherazade, Op. 35 (1888)
(Listen), CD, YouTube

She weaves a new tale
for 1001 nights—
that's inspiration!

Thursday, May 1, 2008, 3:00 pm
Mountain View: Research on rose & bee.
Reading Emily Dickinson's Poem #1154 (1870)
"Rose on meals of Tint / A Dinner for a Bee"

She knows the process
of the Noon, Rose Tint for Bee—
Is Emily an alchemist? Thursday, May 1, 2008, 3:33 pm
Mountain View: Research on rose & bee.
Reading on tincture in Edward F. Edinger,
"The Mysterium Lectures" (1995), p. 99

Red and white tincture—
Alchemy's elixir for
the Philosopher's Stone.

Thursday, May 1, 2008, 5:00 pm
Art Library, Stanford University
Scanning "Dat Rosa Mel Apibus" (Fludd, 1629)
in Alexander Roob Alchemy & Mysticism (1997)
Commentary: "The rose gives the bees honey"

The cedar rosebud
from my poem looks just
like this Alchemical rose. Thursday, May 1, 2008, 6:30 pm
Art Library, Stanford University
Notes to poem "Deodar Cedar Rosebud"
Unveiling its sacred alchemical mysteries,
the Rose takes me on a spiritual journey.

Deeper and deeper
I delve into the sacred
mysteries of alchemy.

Friday, May 2, 2008, 4:20 pm
Green Library, Stanford University
Insight from Emily Dickinson, Letter #618
to Forrest F. Emerson (circa 1879)
on the "philosopher's stone"

Philosopher's stone—
not to make gold but
in making others happy. Friday, May 2, 2008, 4:30-5:20 pm
Stanford Palm Drive Express, Bus #522,
Bus #40 to Los Altos Library. Bus #522 Driver
so kind to let me on bus late & let me off at
El Camino & San Antonio to catch Bus #40.

Miracles do happen!
Made it to library in time
to print out my poems.

Saturday, May 3, 2008, 9:27-9:30 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky,
Symphony #6 in B, Op.74 "Pathetique" (1893)
(Listen), CD, (YouTube: Karajan, 1st movement)
("Pathetique" in Russian means "passionate")

Christ is a poet—
14 Stations of the Cross:
his passion sonnet! Saturday, May 3, 2008, 9:39-9:45 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Takako Nishizaki &
Jenö Jandó play Ludwig van Beethoven,
Violin Sonata #5 in F, Op. 24 "Spring" (1801)
(Listen), CD, YouTube

Although it's springtime,
Bay Area weather seems
like it is still winter.

Saturday, May 3, 2008, 6:00 pm
Green Library, Stanford University
Found "alchemy" in Emily Dickinson's, Letter 799
to Susan Gilbert Dickinson (1883) exhanging a
Hyacinth for "more Alchimy: Mere— Sol, Hahn"

Here's a Hyacinth in
trade for a rooster calling
up the Mother Sun. Sunday, May 4, 2008, 3:30 am
Home in Mountain View: Reading Ann's gift of
"Poetry" May 2008 issue: Eavan Boland's essay
"Islands Apart: A Notebook" (pp. 135-144)
Kenneth Rexroth on primary function of the poet

Rexroth says: "function
of the poet— to give life
convincing meaning."

Sunday, May 4, 2008, 10:26-10:31 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Yundi Li plays Chopin,
Nocturne #2 in Eb, Op. 9 #2 (1833)
(Listen), CD, (YouTube) Complete Nocturnes

Soft and gentle tunes
of Chopin's Nocturne lull me
from sleep to wakefulness. Sunday, May 4, 2008, 11:00-11:07 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Joshua Bell plays
Jules Massenet, Thaïs: Meditation, (1894)
(Listen), CD, YouTube

Meditation— at
the middle of attention
in Knowing Thyself.

Sunday, May 4, 2008, 6:00 pm
Green Library, Stanford University
Composing The Rose in Alchemy and
Notes to "Deodar Cedar Rosebud"

Rosebud awakens
me to Dante's vision
and Emily's alchemy. Sunday, May 4, 2008, 10:00-11:45 pm
Memorial Auditorium, Stanford Flicks:
Michel Gondry directs "Be Kind Rewind" (2008)
starring Jack Black, Mos Def, & Melonie Diaz

Magnetized man comes
inside video rental store
erasing all the films.

Monday, May 5, 2008, 12:09-12:26 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Alexander Gibson
conducts Felix Mendelssohn,
Hebrides Overture, Op. 26 "Fingal's Cave" (1833)
(Listen), CD, (YouTube)

Sounds like Beethoven—
stirring waves from Mendelssohn
on the Fingal's Cave. Monday, May 5, 2008, 12:47-12:54 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Leonard Bernstein
conducts Ludwig van Beethoven,
Symphony #3 in Eb, Op. 55 "Eroica", (1803)
(Listen), CD, YouTube

Beethoven's Eroica
awakes the hero in us
to act with courage.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008, 11:02-11:09 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Camille Saint-Saens,
Samson et Dalila, Op. 47: My Heart at Thy
Sweet Voice (1877), (Listen), CD, YouTube

Samson lured to sleep
by her sweet voice— then lost
his hair as well as his sight. Tuesday, May 6, 2008, 11:15 am
Latham Street, Mountain View
Tiny sparrow runs down the block
keeping pace with me as I walk.

Are you racing me?
Each step I take you make ten—
Why don't you just fly?

Tuesday, May 6, 2008, 1:00-2:00 pm
Art Library, Stanford University
Writing poem "The Aha Moment"

Breathe in the Ah, but
keep the outbreath Ha
in your heart for a long life. Tuesday, May 6, 2008, 3:15-6:00 pm
Building 460, Room 429, Stanford University
Robert Bly's Poetry Workshop

Look inside yourself—
See what's shining in there
and write with your heart.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008, 10:26-10:31 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Franz Schubert,
Serenade To Music, D547 (1817),
(Listen), CD, YouTube

Schubert's Serenade
to spring & summer, to time,
to space, to stillness. Wednesday, May 7, 2008, 10:34-10:43 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Tchaikovsky (Pancake Letter),
Serenade for Strings in C: Waltz, Op. 48 (1880)
(Listen), CD, YouTube (Birthday: May 7, 1840)

Tchaikovsky writes friend—
"I continue to bake
musical pancakes."

Wednesday, May 7, 2008, 4:00-7:00 pm
Green Library, Stanford University
Web page of Mary Oliver poems

Attention— the start
of devotion to details
to the soul of things. Wednesday, May 7, 2008, 8:00-9:05 pm
Campbell Recital Hall, Braun Music Center,
Robert Bly's Stanford Poetry Reading

Stealing a grain of
sugar by translating great
poets— that's real joy.

Thursday, May 8, 2008, 10:50-10:54 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Johann Strauss, Jr.,
Thunder and Lightning Polka, Op. 324 (1868),
(Listen), CD, YouTube

Wake up sleepy head—
Thunder & Lightning Polka
gets me out of bed! Thursday, May 8, 2008, 11:41-11:46 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Ludovico Einaudi
Two Sunsets, "Due tramonti" (2003)
(CD) (listen), YouTube

Driving with his Dad
down the hill to the valley
they saw two sunsets.

Friday, May 9, 2008, 12:31-12:41 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Ludwig van Beethoven,
Symphony #8 in F, Op.93 (1868),
(Listen), CD, YouTube

Beethoven's Eighth— not
as popular as his Ninth,
but he loved this child. Friday, May 9, 2008, 12:49-1:02 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Sergei Prokofiev
Romeo and Juliet (1936)
(CD) (listen), YouTube

What is Love?— It is
what the Wise Men came to learn
from the Morning Star.

Saturday, May 10, 2008, 10:07-10:16 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Domenico Zipoli,
Elevazione for Oboe, Cello and Strings (1715),
(Listen), CD, YouTube (* Isa Upanishad *)

Remember O Soul—
Remember your past strivings—
Ascend to the Light. Saturday, May 10, 2008, 12:04-12:12 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Sir Edward Elgar
Bavarian Dances, Op. 27 (1895)
(CD) (listen), YouTube

Today's five and ten—
Let's find a maypole for
these Bavarian Dances.

Sunday, May 11, 2008, 10:43-10:56 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Tolga Kashif,
Queen Symphony (2002,
(Listen), CD, YouTube

This land is sacred—
River's murmur is the voice
of our father's father. Sunday, May 11, 2008, 1:00-3:00 pm
Mountain View: Friend takes me grocery
shopping at Safeway (California Street)
and Lucky (715 East El Camino Real)

Green beans, peas, salmon,
broccoli, cauliflower,
vinegar and milk.

Sunday, May 11, 2008, 4:00-5:00 pm
Los Altos Library: Found Robert Bly's books
"Honey of Words: New & Selected Poems" &
"My Sentence Was A Thousand Years of Joy"

Just two Bly books here—
but exactly what I need
to complete my page. Sunday, May 11, 2008, 10:00 pm-12:10 am
Memorial Auditorium, Stanford Flicks:
Coen Brothers: "No Country for Old Men" (2007),
Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem

His bolt-gun rips out
locks so he kills everyone
like Death on the prowl.

Monday, May 12, 2008, 10:45-10:50 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Sir Charles Mackerras
conducts Antonin Dvorak,
Slavonic Dance #7 in C minor, Op.46 (1878),
(Listen), CD, YouTube

Slavonic Dances
of Dvorak wakes me up—
Time to do some work! Monday, May 12, 2008, 12:12-12-22 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Itzhak Perlman
plays John Williams
Far and Away: Main Theme (1992)
(CD) (listen), YouTube

Stars so far away—
but we're all connected by
the Net of Indra!

Tuesday, May 13, 2008, 1:19-1:26 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Ciprian Porumbescu,
Ballade for Violin & Orchestra, Op. 29 (1880),
(Listen), CD, YouTube, Notes

Beautiful gypsy
music for the anguished soul
to drown its sorrow. Tuesday, May 13, 2008, 1:26-1:44 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Johann Strauss, Jr.,
Blue Danube Waltz, Op. 314 (1867)
(CD) (Listen), YouTube

On the Beautiful
Blue Danube— flowers & birds
sing of springtime joy!

Tuesday, May 13, 2008, 2:00-3:30 pm
Mountain View: Friend takes me shopping
at New Castro Street Market & Trader Joe's

Tofu, bean curd, bok choy,
water chestnuts, lotus root
sesame sticks and eggs. Tuesday, May 13, 2008, 10:00 pm
Stanford Green Library, Reflection on book:
Jack Kornfield's "After the Ecstasy, the Laundry"

Enlightenment is not
retirement but working
with even more joy.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008, 12:06 pm
Showers Drive, Mountain View
Seeing Ikea ad of king-size bed
on side of Bus #40

"Oversleep some more"
says the Ikea bus ad—
I did that today. Wednesday, May 14, 2008, 1:00-1:30 pm
Levinthal Hall, Stanford Humanities Center
Anthony Tommasini (NY Times music critic)
Lecture: "The Art of Judging Music"

Young musicians should
play modern composers
instead of old masters.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008, 1:40-3:00 pm
Art Library, Stanford University: Reading
Robert Bly's Interview by Francis Quinn
"Paris Review" (Issue 154, Spring 2000)

Balzac's Louis Lambert
plunged the infinite—
living the vertical life. Wednesday, May 14, 2008, 1:40-3:00 pm
Art Library, Stanford University: Reading
Robert Bly's Interview by Francis Quinn
"Paris Review" (Issue 154, Spring 2000)

How fascinating that
Louis Lambert inspired
Bly as well as me.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008, 1:40-3:00 pm
Art Library, Stanford University: Reading
Robert Bly's Interview by Francis Quinn
Admires Tomas Tranströmer's poetry

Things not here are coming—
they slip in one by one,
and I'm the turnstile. Wednesday, May 14, 2008, 3:15-6:00 pm
Building 460, Room 334, Stanford University
Eavan Boland: Robert Bly's Poetry Workshop
Bly's "A Wrong Turning in American Poetry"

Our wrong turn is going
outward instead of inward
where the treasure dwells.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008, 3:15-6:00 pm
Building 460, Room 334, Stanford University
Eavan Boland: Robert Bly's Poetry Workshop
Bly's "A Wrong Turning in American Poetry"

Bly championed poets
of the soul— Rilke, Lorca,
Neruda and Machado. Wednesday, May 14, 2008, 10:00 pm
Green Library, Stanford University
Inspired by Bly, wrote first ghazal
"Eureka Moments of Joy"

This is Buddha's bliss—
wherever he turns, he sees
all things full of joy.

Thursday, May 15, 2008, 9:29-9:42 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Alexander Borodin,
In the Steppes of Central Asia (1880),
(Listen), CD, YouTube

Music David Lean
could use for his epic films—
vast landscape vistas. Thursday, May 15, 2008, 12:00-2:30 pm
Angelo Mio Restaurant, Menlo Park
Greg treats me for lunch & we talk about
healthy diet, spirituality and singularity

A delicious lunch!—
arugula salad green
with salmon fillet.

Friday, May 16, 2008, 10:40-10:45 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Roman Hofstetter,
Serenade in C (Quartet for Strings) (1777),
(Listen: Haydn Op. 3), CD, YouTube

I love dancing to
this sprightly music with
elves in my dream forest. Friday, May 16, 2008, 11:38-11:45 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Billy Joel,
Waltz #1, Op. 2 (Nunley's Carousel) (2001),
(Listen), CD, YouTube, Lyrics

The carousel horse
circles me back to childhood
and circus delight!

Friday, May 16, 2008, 1:04-1:18 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Maurice Ravel,
Bolero (1928),
(Listen), CD, YouTube

Camel caravan
marches on to oasis
in the desert sands. Friday, May 16, 2008, 1:30-1:40 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Ludwig van Beethoven,
Symphony #3 in Eb, Op. 55 "Eroica", (1803)
(Listen), CD, YouTube

Where's the hero who'll
speak out against tyranny
that enslaves our mind?

Friday, May 16, 2008, 4:00-5:00 pm
Mountain View: Friend takes me grocery
shopping at Lucky as temperature hits 99^oF.

Roma tomatoes,
radishes, and frozen
country style orange juice. Friday, May 16, 2008, 8:00 pm
Green Library, Stanford University
Typing Robert Bly poems from his books

The peony blossoms—
the tree trembles when fifty
blackbirds leave at once.

Saturday, May 17, 2008, 9:47-9:52 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Fritz Kreisler,
"Liebesfreud & Liebesleid" (1935)
(Listen), CD, (YouTube: Kreisler, Joshua Bell)

Love's joy, love's sorrow—
the red rose with its thorns,
light wedded to darkness. Saturday, May 17, 2008, 10:17-10:24 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Johannes Brahms,
Symphony #3 in F major, Op. 90, (1883)
(Listen), CD, YouTube

Carlos Santana's
"Love of My Life" inspired
by Brahm's Third Symphony.

Saturday, May 17, 2008, 11:40 am
Green Library, Stanford University
Sally's 5/15 email on Zydeco music
Campbell's "Boogie On The Bayou"

New Orleans' washboard tunes
to boogie dance in the street—
but I'm not going. Saturday, May 17, 2008, 6:00 pm
Green Library, Stanford University
Found in Bly's "The Morning Glory" (1969),
this Basho haiku— truly a gem of gold!

The morning glory—
Another thing
that will never be my friend.

Saturday, May 17, 2008, 8:26 pm
Showers Drive, Mountain View
Near Full Moon in cloudless grey sky
May's Moon: Flower Moon & Budding Moon

Budding Flower Moon—
I raise my cup as you pour
your white pearls of light. Saturday, May 17, 2008, 9:00-10:00 pm
Cubberley Pavilion, Palo Alto
Ballroom dancing (Waltz & Samba lessons)
Rose remembers my name & I recall Rosa.

She has not danced here
in over two years, yet she
remembers my name.

Sunday, May 18, 2008, 9:48-10:03 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Garrick Ohlsson
plays Frederic Chopin, (Listen), CD,
Piano Concerto #1 In E minor, Op. 11 (1830)
(YouTube: Yundi Li, Moriz Rosenthal)

Chopin's Concerto
lulls me back to sleep while
I should be waking up! Sunday, May 18, 2008, 10:33-10:46 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Mario Klemens
conducts Stuart Mitchell, Seven Wonders:
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, (2006)
Listen, CD, YouTube

A Seventh Wonder—
Mausoleum for Mausolus
destroyed by earthquake.

Sunday, May 18, 2008, 12:30 pm
Green Library, Stanford University
Emails from Cathy (her Dad's birthday),
Greg (luncheon talks), Richard (Sergey Brin)
were especially spiritually nourishing

Emails from three friends
like gifts of the Magi bring
treasures for the soul. Sunday, May 18, 2008, 10:00 pm-11:55 pm
Mem Auditorium, Stanford Flicks, Julian Schnabel:
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (2007),
Mathieu Amalric, Emmanuelle Seigner,
Marie-Josée Croze, Max von Sydow

Bauby wrote his book
Diving Bell and Butterfly
blinking just one eye.

Monday, May 19, 2008, 10:49-10:59 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Pascal Rogé
plays Erik Satie,
Je Te Veux (I Want You) (1900)
(Listen), CD, YouTube

I want you to state
your deepest passion so you
could make it come true. Monday, May 19, 2008, 12:08-12:27 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Yo-Yo Ma, Emanuel Ax,
Pamela Frank, Rebecca Young, Edgar Meyer
play Franz Schubert, "Trout" Quintet in A (1819)
(Listen), CD, YouTube

Five star musicians
gone fishing for trout—
and we're enjoying the meal!

Tuesday, May 20, 2008, 9:10-9:20 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,
Marriage of Figaro, K. 492 (1786)
Listen, CD, YouTube

Married to my work—
Lady Wisdom never failed
to nourish my soul. Tuesday, May 20, 2008, 11:00 am-Noon
Margaret Jacks Hall, Terrace Room (4th floor)
Robert Bly: Stanford Poetry Colloquium
(Tranströmer, Mirabai, Neruda, Rumi, Hafiz)

Talk on translation—
finding the right words to make
the poem come alive.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008, 2:30-2:45 pm
Building 460, Room 418, Stanford University
Meeting Robert Bly in his office, I give him
"What Nicodemus Came to Learn by Night"

Tranströmer says
Nicodemus is asleep—
Doesn't know where to go. Wednesday, May 21, 2008, 3:15-6:00 pm
Building 460, Room 334, Stanford University
Robert Bly's Poetry Workshop
Writing a ghazal poem in class

If enlightenment
is so good, why sages don't
spread it around more?

Wednesday, May 21, 2008, 6:00 pm
I ask Bly to lend me his Blyth book
"Genius of the Haiku" to type haikus.
Bly gives me his Notebook instead.

Magnanimity—
Bly shows it, giving me
his Notebook for a week. Wednesday, May 21, 2008, 7:00-11:55 pm
Green Library, Stanford University
Deciphering Bly's miniscule handwriting,
I complete web page Bly's Haikus

I feel the spirit
of Basho, Issa, and Bly
helping me with this.

Thursday, May 22, 2008, 1:02-1:34 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,
Piano Concerto #21 in C, K. 467 (1785)
Listen, CD, YouTube

Such soothing music
from Mozart's gentle soul
to inspire those in love. Thursday, May 22, 2008, 6:00-7:25 pm
Pigott Hall, Room 113, Stanford University
Paul Losensky, "To Revere, Revise and Renew:
Sa'eb Tabriz reads the Ghazals of Rumi"

Sa'eb inspired by
Rumi wrote 60 response
poems that were just as good.

Thursday, May 22, 2008, 8:00-9:00 pm
Art Library, Stanford University
Scanning my Bible marginalia
on "Gospel of John", 3.14

Snake on its belly
rises on the caduceus
to the Eternal. Thursday, May 21, 2008, 7:00-11:55 pm
Green Library, Stanford University
Typing poem inspired by Tranströmer
"What Is the Address?"

Go ask Giotto— he knows!
Einstein will also guide you
to this holy place.

Friday, May 23, 2008, 12:25 am
Computer froze when logging off at
Library, so I'm late for Shuttle Bus
at Stanford University Oval.

Caught bus in time as
new driver was ten minutes
late— Lucky for me! Friday, May 23, 2008, 10:06-10:14 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Franz Joseph Haydn,
Symphony #101 in D major "Clock" (1794)
Listen, CD, YouTube

The clock is ticking—
Rumi, Sa'eb, and Kabir
are shouting "Don't sleep!"

Friday, May 23, 2008, 3:14 pm
Riding Bus #22 on El Camino, Palo Alto
Digital Time Display on Bus— 3:14 pm
reminds me of Shakespeare "Sonnet 3.14"

It's where we all go
as Shakespeare writes in
his last line of Third Sonnet. Friday, May 23, 2008, 4:00 pm
Green Library, Stanford University
Request two co-eds sitting by Red Fountain
to move so I could take unobstructed photo.

The Red Fountain with
a circle of musical
water looks like π.

Saturday, May 24, 2008, 8:50-8:59 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Hilary Hahn
plays Johannes Brahms,
Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77 (1878)
Listen, CD, YouTube

Young composer Brahms
nourished by the Schumanns
grew and grew to a giant. Saturday, May 24, 2008, 11:32 am
Green Library, Stanford University
Meditating in front of the Red Fountain,
noticed 3 red strokes resembling a Torii
and 14 rings in a circle on the ground.

The Red Fountain sings
3 strokes of Torii,
14 rings in a circle.

Sunday, May 25, 2008, 10:12-10:15 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Felix Mendelssohn,
Symphony #2 in B, "Hymn of Praise" Op. 52 (1840) Listen, CD, YouTube

Lively paced music
for a bounty hunter or
tiger on the prowl. Sunday, May 25, 2008, 12:00-1:00 pm
Mountain View: Friend takes me grocery
shopping at Safewary and Milk Pail

Orange bell peppers,
green onions, cauliflower,
broccoli, red globe grapes,
potato salad and milk.

Sunday, May 25, 2008, 3:30 pm
Green Library, Stanford University
Reading "A Superhighway to Bliss"
(Jill Bolte Taylor's stroke led her to euphoria)
(New York Times, May 25, 2008)

Her body and space
around her were one—
all part of one energy. Sunday, May 25, 2008, 12:00-1:00 pm
Memorial Auditorium, Stanford University
Stanford Flicks, Richard LaGravenese
directs "P.S. I Love You" (2007),
starring Hilary Swank & Gerard Butler

After husband died,
wife receives letters from him
written before he died.

Monday, May 26, 2008, 11:07-11:28 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: George Gershwin,
Rhapsody in Blue (1924) Listen, CD, YouTube

Jazzy music to
wake up— Gershwin's Rhapsody
in Blue sings "Dont' Sleep!" Monday, May 26, 2008, 12:03-12:15 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,
Symphony #36 in C major, K425 "Linz" (1783) Listen, CD, YouTube

Written in four days—
that's Mozart where music
flowed through him like water.

Monday, May 26, 2008, 2:00 pm
Galvez Street, Palo Alto
"Can't Be Beat" sign near Stanford Stadium

You can't beat the wind
or space that is empty
or the Mind that is still. Monday, May 26, 2008, 3:00 pm
Archway between Buildings 30 & 250
at Stanford (Language & Literature)

Nine palm tree tops seen
from this archway— Apollo
plays for these Muses.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008, 10:27-10:40 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Domenico Zipoli,
Elevazione for Oboe, Cello and Strings (1715),
(Listen), CD, YouTube

I'm content staying
where I am— not ascending
on Jacob's Ladder. Tuesday, May 27, 2008, 12:24-12:30 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Henry Purcell,
Abdelazer, Z 570 "Moor's Revenge": Suite (1695) Listen, CD, YouTube

I recall doing
this English Country Dance
called In the Garden Green.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008, 11:06-11:09 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky,
Swan Lake: Dances, Waltz #1 (1876),
(Listen), CD, YouTube

Lilting waltz lifted
me out of bed. It's Swan Lake—
Now I'll have to fly! Wednesday, May 28, 2008, 11:09-11:26 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Giuseppe Tartini,
Violin Sonata in G, "Devil's Trill" (1750), CD,
Listen, YouTube: David Oistraik, Vanessa Mae

The tunes came to him
in a dream— violin playing
from the Devil's trill.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008, 3:15-6:00 pm
Building 460, Room 334, Stanford University
Robert Bly's Poetry Class: Bly gives us a copy
of his "The Thousands" (2001) as parting gift,
He leaves Stanford tomorrow for Maine to the
"Great Mother and New Father Conference"

We're surprised and saddened
it's our last class with Bly
who has shared so much heart. Wednesday, May 28, 2008, 3:15-6:00 pm
Building 460, Room 334, Stanford University
Robert Bly's Poetry Class: When I ask Bly
to lend me his Hafez book to copy Ghazal #34
"What Do We Reaaly Need?" that he read,
Bly gives me the book for keeps as a gift.

For Peter— with thanks for
his many gifts and gestures
and joyful thoughts. —Robert Bly

Wednesday, May 28, 2008, 3:15-6:00 pm
Building 460, Room 334, Stanford University
Robert Bly's Poetry Class: Bly reads
Tranströmer's "April and Silence"
that was written just before his stroke.

He has not spoken
in fifteen years after his stroke,
but his mind is still sharp. Wednesday, May 28, 2008, 3:15-6:00 pm
Building 460, Room 334, Stanford University
Robert Bly's Poetry Class: I read my poem
"What Is The Address?" inspired by Tomas
Tranströmer's "The Scattered Congregation"

Class is surprised that
the Red Fountain is sacred
gateway to Green Library.

Thursday, May 29, 2008, 11:06-11:12 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Tomasso Albinoni,
Adagio in G minor (1958),
(Listen), CD, YouTube

Spiritual delight
listening to this music
of the soul's ascent. Thursday, May 29, 2008, 11:21-11:39 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Johann Sebastian Bach,
Brandenburg Concerto #1 in F, BWV 1046 (1717) Listen, CD, YouTube

Beethoven inspired
by Bach's oceanic
music and so have I.

Friday, May 30, 2008, 10:40-10:53 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Johann Sebastian Bach,
Orchestral Suite #3 in D major, BWV 1068 (1731),
(Listen 1, Listen 2, CD, YouTube
(* Wordsworth's "Daffodils" *)

Floating on a cloud
to Bach's "Air on G strings"
I dream of daffodils. Friday, May 30, 2008, 10:58-11:08 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Johannes Brahms,
Symphony #3 in F major, Op. 90, (1883)
(Listen), CD, YouTube
(Carlos Santana: "Love of My Life")

Love of my life is
the Library where I'm soaring
beyond time and space.

Friday, May 30, 2008, 1:32 pm
El Camino & San Antonio, Mountain View
I tell teenager how much I liked
his T-shirt with Emerson quote.

"To be great is to be
misunderstood." How true—
Just follow your bliss! Friday, May 30, 2008, 4:00 pm
Los Altos Public Library, Los Altos
Reading "Lotus Therapy: Mindfulness Meditation"
& Jon Kabat-Zinn (NY Times, May 27, 2008)

Mindfulness Meditation—
Being aware as each
moment moves by you.

Saturday, May 31, 2008, 9:49-9:59 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Georges Bizet,
Carmen: Suite #2, Bohemian Dance (1875),
(Listen, CD, YouTube

Don't be a spectator!
Be a bullfighter yourself
and get in the rink. Saturday, May 31, 2008, 10:14-10:25 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Johann Pachelbel,
Canon in D major (1680)
(Listen), CD, YouTube

Beautiful music
for the soul written by monk
who knows inner worlds.