Haikus: December 2009

HAIKUS: December 2009

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, December 1, 2009, 1:39 pm
Los Altos, San Antonio Rd & W. Edith
Crane Cloud over Los Altos Library (Photo)

Over Los Altos Library
a crane cloud flies east
in sky sea of blue. Tuesday, December 1, 2009, 1:42 pm
Los Altos Library, San Antonio Road
Fish sculpture & stone fountain (Photo)

Fish bone sculpture by
the stone fountain— Did
the crane eat you for lunch?

Tuesday, December 1, 2009, 3:53 pm
Palo Alto, El Camino Real & Galvez Street
Bird cloud over Town & Country Village (Photo)

Bird cloud with wide-open
beak sings song over
Town & Country Village. Tuesday, December 1, 2009, 4:02 pm
Stanford University, Galvez & Serra Street
Bird cloud over Encina Hall (Photo)

Bird cloud flying south—
its right wing more fuzzy,
its left wing extended.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009, 5:15-6:50 pm
Stanford Old Union, 3rd floor, Sanctuary
Zoketsu Norman Fischer, Everyday Zen Foundation,
"How Japanese Is American Soto Zen"
(Meeting Norman Fischer, 3-24-1990)

Japanese culture
is like a container
that is always empty. Tuesday, December 1, 2009, 5:15-6:50 pm
Stanford Old Union, 3rd floor, Sanctuary
Zoketsu Norman Fischer, Everyday Zen Foundation,
"How Japanese Is American Soto Zen"
(Meeting Norman Fischer, 5-15-2003)

Shunryu Suzuki says
the best answers come
from our own seeking.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009, 1:14 am
Stanford University Oval: Waiting for
1:14 am Midnight Express Shuttle Bus;
Seeing Full Cold Moon over my head

December's Cold Moon—
a haloed white pearl pours
blessings over my head. Wednesday, December 2, 2009, 2:15 am
Mountain View: Driveway between Avalon Towers
& 550 Ortega Avenue— Maple leaf branch
shadows cast from overhead lamplight.

Instant sidewalk art—
Lamplight casts shadow
painting of maple tree leaves.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009, 3:00-5:10 pm
Los Altos Hills, Foothill Krause Center
Wrote poem "You Can't Catch Me" using
84 titles from Joyce Carol Oates' books;
Oates: Books, Essays, Poems & Interviews

You can't catch me
snake-eyes zombie, night-side
assassins, haunted hungry ghosts. Wednesday, December 2, 2009, 5:30-6:20 pm
Los Altos Library: Checked out Shunryu Suzuki's
"Not Always So", "Branching Streams Flow
in the Darkness", & Zen Master Seung Sahn's
"Wanting Enlighenment Is a Big Mistake"

Wisdom teachings from
Japanese and Korean Zen
masters— Don't Know! Yes!

Thursday, December 3, 2009, 12:51-1:03 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings
"What shall we give to the babe in the manger?",
(Listen), CD, YouTube, Lyrics

Gold, myrrh, frankincense—
the wise men brought to the babe
who would be their King. Thursday, December 3, 2009, 5:10-5:40 pm
Stanford Lake Lagunita walk with friend;
Typed up Norman Fischer's Soto Zen Talk
at Art Library & Green Library (7 pm-1 am)

Didn't know the cradle
of world's religions
was called the Axial Age.

Friday, December 4, 2009, 10:52-11:03 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Johann Strauss, Jr.
Danube Maidens, Op. 427, (1887)
(Listen), CD, YouTube, Rhine Maidens,
Donauweibchen (Danube Maidens)

Are Danube Maidens
sirens from Rhine River
luring sailors to death? Friday, December 4, 2009, 11:49-11:54 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Erik Satie,
Poudre d'or "Gold Dust" (1901)
(Listen), (CD), YouTube, [Recall: Jan Gossaert,
Zeus as shower of gold falls on "Danae" (1527)]

Scatter some gold dust
on Danae— Zeus calling:
"This is your lucky day!"

Friday, December 4, 2009, 12:36-12:45 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Mormon Tabernacle Choir
sings "The Twelve Days of Christmas",
(Listen), CD, YouTube, Lyrics

Twelve Days of Christmas—
with gifts piling up so high
from Earth to Heaven! Friday, December 4, 2009, 2:20 pm
Los Altos Hills, Foothill Krause Center
Photo of Phoenix Cloud on top of hill
Myth of the phoenix, Phoenix Rising

The fire bird Phoenix
flies to Heliopolis
every 500 years.

Friday, December 4, 2009, 1:30-5:10 pm
Los Altos Hills, Foothill Krause Center
Writing ten haikus from last three days &
finished typing Norman Fischer's Zen Talk
"How Japanese Is American Soto Zen?"

Suzuki Roshi mirrored
the heart of others—
so all felt close to him. Friday, December 4, 2009, 7:25 pm
Palo Alto: While walking to 957 Colorado Ave
for Waverley Writers Poetry Reading, I passed
by a house on the 800 block whose lawn was
illuminated with Christmas lights (Photo)

"Pretty isn't it?"
a passerby says stopping
by these Christmas lights.

Friday, December 4, 2009, 7:30-9:30 pm
Friends' House, 957 Colorado Avenue, Palo Alto
Waverley Writers Monthly Poetry Reading—
Mel Koronelos read poem "Knock Up" inspired by
Fredric Brown's "Knock", 17-word Sci-Fi story

The last man on earth
sat alone in a room.
There was a knock on the door... Friday, December 4, 2009, 7:30-9:30 pm
Friends' House, 957 Colorado Avenue, Palo Alto
Waverley Writers Monthly Poetry Reading—
Mel Koronelos read a funny poem "Knock Up"
inspired by Fredric Brown's Sci-Fi story "Knock"

The last poem on earth
was French— knock on the door
was a Russian novel.

Friday, December 4, 2009, 7:30-9:30 pm
Friends' House, 957 Colorado Avenue, Palo Alto
Waverley Writers Monthly Poetry Reading—
Read poem "Mother Bird in the Wild Branches"

Read poem and showed photos
of Mother Bird branches
transformed to Bird Cloud. Friday, December 4, 2009, 9:45 pm
Friends' House, 957 Colorado Avenue, Palo Alto
Waverley Writers Monthly Poetry Reading—
Terry Adams gives me a copy of his "Adam's Rib"

Terry is old friend
from Dick Maxwell's workshops
and an astute poet.

Saturday, December 5, 2009, 11:38-11:43 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Ralph Vaughan Williams
Fantasia on Greensleeves (1934),
(Listen) (CD), YouTube, Greensleeves

Is Greensleeves the King's
lover or is it the colored
leaves of autumn? Saturday, December 5, 2009, 1:30-2:30 pm
Mountain View: Friend takes me grocery
shopping at Safeway (2580 California Street)
Took 3:03 pm Shopping Express Bus to Stanford

Doritos nacho chips,
fish fillets, skim milk,
yogurt, supreme pizza.

Saturday, December 5, 2009, 7:53-7:58 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Emile Waldteufel
Les Patineurs (Skaters' Waltz), Op. 183 (1882)
(Listen) CD, YouTube

Light lilting music
bit too fast for dancing
but just right for skating. Saturday, December 5, 2009, 8:40-11:55 pm
Palo Alto, Cubberley Pavilion, Ballroom dancing: Michelle Regal teaches intermediate tango;
Sasho & Irena Popov, Demos: Foxtrot, Quickstep

Bulgarian dance champions
electrify audience with
their dancing style!

Sunday, December 6, 2009, 1:48-1:58 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Alexander Borodin,
String Quartet #2 in D major (1881)
2nd movement, Scherzo, Allegro in F major
("Kismet" 1955 film), (Listen), (CD), Trailer

Howard Keel & Ann Blyth sang
"Baubles, Bangles, & Beads"
in the film Kismet.
Sunday, December 6, 2009, 4:00-10:00 pm
Stanford University, Cummings Art Library
Scanned Suzuki's "Not Always So" book cover;
Links to Sasho & Irena Popov: Foxtrot, Quickstep;
Found Peggy Lee's "Baubles, Bangles, & Beads"

Love Howard Keel's song
but Peggy Lee's version
is even more riveting!

Monday, December 7, 2009, 1:16-1:19 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1892)
Nutcracker: Dance of Sugar Plum Fairy, Op. 71
Listen, CD, YouTube

Children love The Nutcracker—
ballet dancing with
Sugar Plum Fairy.
Monday, December 7, 2009, 2:33 pm
Palo Alto, Cubberley Community Center
Parking Lot: Dark Nimbus Clouds
seconds before sunburst, Photo 1, Photo 2

Dark clouds with silver lining—
more rainstorm coming
or burst of sunshine?

Monday, December 7, 2009, 4:30-6:15 pm
Stanford University, Arrillaga Alumni Center
Prof. Emeritus Herant Katchadourian, Book,
"Guilt: The Bite of Conscience", Stanford Magazine

Guilt is a weapon
of the weak. Guilt feelings
make one depressed and sick.
Monday, December 7, 2009, 6:45-10:00 pm
Stanford University, Cummings Art Library
Found Norman Fischer's "Japanese Influence"
Santa Sabina September 26 2009 talk (audio)

Listened to Fischer's talk
to fill gaps in my notes
of his Stanford talk.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009, 11:10-11:18 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Piotr Ilyitch Tchaikovsky
The Nutcracker: Waltz of the Flowers (1892)
(Listen) (CD) (YouTube)

Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker—
beautiful dance music
"Waltz of the Flowers".
Tuesday, December 8, 2009, 2:20-5:10 pm
Los Altos Hill, Foothill Krause Center
Cover for "Selected Poems 2009";
Notes for "You Can't Catch Me"

Krause Center closing
on December 11
for the holidays.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009, 10:00 pm-1:00 am
Stanford University, Green Library, Poem links to
84 Joyce Carol Oates books at Celestial Timepiece

Just over an hour
to link poem to 84
Joyce Carol Oates books.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009, 2:05 am
Mountain View, Latham Street
Walking home & seeing Half Moon

Half Moon is horizontal
like a silver bowl
with golden halo.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009, 11:28-11:32 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Leon Fleisher plays
Ludwig van Beethoven, "Für Elise"
Bagatelle for Piano in A minor, WoO 59 (1808),
(Listen), CD, YouTube, Commentaries

Beethoven wrote this
music when he was in love—
such sweet melodies!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009, 12:00-12:03 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: The Choir of Clare College
(Cambridge) sings George Frederick Handel
Messiah: Hallelujah Chorus, HWV 56 (1742)
(Listen) (CD) (YouTube 1, YouTube 2)

When heaven's door opens
drowning you with vision—
Sing Hallelujah!

Wednesday, December 9, 2009, 12:43-12:47 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Piotr Ilyitch Tchaikovsky
The Nutcracker, Op. 71, #8, Act 1: Forest of Fir
Trees in Winter: Journey through the Snow (1892)
(Listen) (CD) (YouTube: 1, 2), Bay Area Snow

"Journey through the Snow"
from Nutcracker just right
for our Bay Area snow.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009, 6:00 pm
Stanford University, Cummings Art Library
Denise's email: CNN Video "Mom's Toy Story"—
Her daughter's "messenger mice" drawing
inspired Denise to start a toy company

Beautiful to see
seed blossoming to fruit—
Cheers for Denise & Grace!

Thursday, December 10, 2009, 12:43-12:47 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Ottorino Respighi,
Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite #1 (1917),
(Listen), CD, YouTube

Base on Renaissance
lute pieces by Galileo's
father Vincenzo. Thursday, December 10, 2009, 3:10-5:10 pm
Los Altos Hills, Foothill Krause Center
Joyce Carol Oates "New Heaven, New Earth:
the visionary experience in literature", Epigraph

Kafka: "Evil does not exist;
once you've crossed the threshold,
all is good." (Diary, 1922)

Thursday, December 10, 2009, 3:10-5:10 pm
Los Altos Hills, Foothill Krause Center
Joyce Carol Oates "New Heaven, New Earth"—
Quotes D.H. Lawrence "New Heaven and Earth"

"I shall be mad with delight...
in the new world
a mad man in rapture." Thursday, December 10, 2009, 3:10-5:10 pm
Los Altos Hills, Foothill Krause Center
"Journal of Joyce Carol Oates: 1973-1982"
May 5, 1979 entry on Robert Bly's poetry reading

Bly is wonderfully funny
in an ecstatic reading
of leaping poetry.

Friday, December 11, 2009, 11:13-11:18 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Ludwig van Beethoven,
"Rage Over a Lost Penny", Op. 129 (1795),
(Listen), CD, YouTube: Evgeny Kissin

Beethoven's fury
unleashed on the keyboard
over his lost penny! Friday, December 11, 2009, 1:30-5:00 pm
Los Altos Hills, Foothill Krause Center
Valerie's email: Sharing funny video
of black bear encounter with a cat

To fight bigger beasts
you need lots of courage
like this little cat did!

Saturday, December 12, 2009, 9:33-9:40 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Jon Nakamatsu
plays Frederic Chopin,
Polonaise in A-flat major "Heroic", Op. 53, (1842)
(Listen), CD, YouTube: Horowitz

Chopin's "Heroic"
Polonaise inspires us
to higher energies! Saturday, December 12, 2009, 11:30 am-5:00 pm
Stanford University, Green Library
Reading Joyce Carol Oates "High Lonesome" story
(2006), and 6 other "High Lonesome"s on the web
for Notes to Poem: "You Can't Catch Me"

My "High lonesome" is
spider monkey or Lucifer—
son of morning.

Sunday, December 13, 2009, 1:45-4:45 pm
Los Altos Library: Checked out five books—
Laurence G. Boldt's "Zen & Art of Making a Living"
Joyce Carol Oates: "Journal", "Conversations",
"Biography", Plimpton's "Women Writers at Work"

Reading more Oates books
to gain insight of her art
and creativity. Sunday, December 13, 2009, 6:52-7:01 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Johann Pachelbel,
Canon in D major (1680)
(Listen), CD, YouTube
Ninth anniversary of Dad's death

Dad died nine years ago
today, it's raining again—
tears in my heart.

Monday, December 14, 2009, 11:39-11:49 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Ottorino Respighi
Botticelli Triptych "Trittico Botticelliano:
Adoration of the Magi" (1927)
(listen), CD, YouTube

Botticelli knew as did
Leonardo & Dürer
about the Three Kings. Monday, December 14, 2009, 5:00-9:00 pm
Stanford University, Green Library
Reading Joyce Carol Oates books: I'll Take
You There, Foxfire, Angel Fire, Angel of Light
for Notes to Poem: "You Can't Catch Me"

I'll take you there to
the edge— heat, foxfire,
angel fire, angel of light.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 10:49-10:53 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Clare College Choir sings
"The Twelve Days of Christmas", (Listen), CD,
YouTube; Patridge in "Conference of the Birds"

Partridge loves precious stones—
burning with desires
for glitter of matter. Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 12:20-2:20 pm
Mountain View: Friend takes me grocery
shopping at Milk Pail & Safeway
& gives me ride to Stanford Library

Green grapes, green onions,
broccoli, cauliflower,
shrimp, cheese, ham and eggs.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 11:51-11:55 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Charles Gounod, "Ave Maria"
(1859)— melody superimposed over
"Prelude No. 1 in C major from Book I
of the Well-Tempered Clavier" (BWV 846),
composed by Johann Sebastian Bach (1722)
(Listen), CD, YouTube

As the bird ascends
so does our soul in this
tune of Ave Maria! Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 3:00-5:00 pm
Stanford University, Cummings Art Library
"A Real Ode to Joy: 'Peanuts' Beethoven Unite"
(San Jose Mercury News, 12-16-2009)
celebrating Beethoven's 239th birthday
Schulz's Beethoven 155-page website
(Peter's Photos & Haikus)

His friend's daughter poured
water over his head—
Beethoven laughed and laughed!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 5:25-7:20 pm
Stanford Theatre: Vincente Minnelli directs
"The Band Wagon" (1953) starring
Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Jack Buchanan,
Oscar Levant, & Nanette Fabray (Trailer)

Ballet and tap dancers
harmonize their styles
while dancing in the park. Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 7:30-9:20 pm
Stanford Theatre: Stanley Donen directs
"Funny Face" (1957) starring Fred Astaire,
Audrey Hepburn, & Kay Thompson;
Consultant Richard Avedon (Trailer)

I'm feeling so great
in such a high state
because of this lovely kiss!

Thursday, December 17, 2009, 11:52-11:59 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Franz Liszt,
"Hungarian Rhapsody #6" (1847)
Listen, (CD), YouTube. Repetitive melody
in first part using mostly black keys.

This lively music
by Liszt is fit for dancing
the jig or czardas! Thursday, December 17, 2009, 2:10 pm
Mountain View, Showers Drive & El Camino
Waiting for Bus #22 to Stanford
and seeing a giant Blimp in the sky.
Share sighting with mother & daughter

A Blimp in the sky
floating slowly by—
Why is it so uplifting?

Friday, December 18, 2009, 10:37-10:43 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Yo-Yo Ma plays Bach (1749)
Cantata Chorales: Sleepers Awake, BWV 645
(Listen), CD, (YouTube)

O Sleepers awake
from this world of illusion
to that Higher Self! Friday, December 18, 2009, 3:00-5:00 pm
Stanford University, Cummings Art Library
Notes to poem: "You Can't Catch Me"
A connection to Tibetan Bhavacakra?

Oates book titles made
into Wheel of Life from
hell realms to paradise.

Friday, December 18, 2009, 7:30-9:15 pm
Stanford Theatre: Michael Curtis directs
"Casablanca" (1942) starring Humphrey Bogart,
Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains,
Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre
Review 1, Review 2, (Trailers: 1, 2)

Most romantic film—
Rick's love for Ilsa
from Paris to Casablanca. Friday, December 18, 2009, 9:25-11:17 pm
Stanford Theatre: George Cukor directs
"The Philadelphia Story" (1940) (Trailer),
starring Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant,
James Stewart, Ruth Hussey, Roland Young,
John Howard, Mary Nash, & Virginia Weidler

Is she a cold goddess
of bronze or a warm woman
of flesh and blood?

Saturday, December 19, 2009, 9:50-9:55 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Ken Bible & George D. Elderkin,
"Jesus, the Light of the World" (1998)
(Listen), CD, (YouTube)

Jesus— light of the world,
but Buddha taught:
"Be the lamp unto yourself!" Saturday, December 19, 2009, 12:00-5:00 pm
Stanford University, Green Library
Emailed Rudy & Jack on last night's films
and death of poet Morton Marcus

Sad to learn Morton Marcus
died— learned a lot
from this poet mentor.

Sunday, December 20, 2009, 11:34-11:39 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Emile Waldteufel
Les Patineurs (Skaters' Waltz), Op. 183 (1882)
(Listen) CD, YouTube

Great music for waltz—
too fast for dancing
but just right for ice skating. Sunday, December 20, 2009, 12:45-4:30 pm
Los Altos Library: Emailed Rudy & Jack
on Hollywood film actresses
still alive in their 80s & 90s

Olivia de Havilland,
Joan Fontaine, Joan Leslie,
and Nanette Fabray.

Monday, December 21, 2009, 7:30-7:37 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Joshua Bell plays
Antonin Dvorak, (Listen), CD, YouTube,
Rusalka: Song to the Moon (1900)

Song for crescent moon
waxing to fullness on
this Winter Solstice Day. Monday, December 21, 2009, 11:16 am-5:00 pm
Stanford University, Green Library
Email friends on Winter Solstice
darkest day of year (9.5 hours sunlight)

Darkest day of year
is the best time for planting
seeds of light— Christos!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009, 10:43-10:49 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Henry Purcell, (Listen), (CD),
The Fairy Queen Z 629: Sinfonia (1692) (Notes),
Anthony told me Spenser's "Faerie Queene" (1596)

The Faery Queen is
an allegory on our soul's
spiritual journey. Tuesday, December 22, 2009, 12:30-1:30 pm
Mountain View: Friend takes me grocery
shopping at Milk Pail (2585 California St.)
and Safeway (2580 California Street)

Green onions, radishes,
green beans, muesli,
and blueberry muffins.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009, 10:43-10:49 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Salzedo Harp Duo plays
Joseph Brackett, "Simple Gifts" (1848)
(Listen), (CD), YouTube, Notes

To turn, turn will be
our delight, till by turning,
turning, we come round right. Wednesday, December 23, 2009, 3:00-5:00 pm
Stanford University, Green Library
Writing Preface to "Mother Bird in the
Wild Branches: Selected Poems of 2009"

Recalling the moment
of inspiration that
triggered all these poems.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009, 5:45-7:20 pm
Stanford Theatre: George Seaton directs
"Miracle on 34th Street" (1947)
starring Maureen O'Hara, John Payne,
Edmund Gwenn, Natalie Wood (Trailer)

Little Susan's skeptical
eyes changed slowly
as she believed in Santa. Wednesday, December 23, 2009, 7:30-9:10 pm
Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto, Ernest Lubitsch
directs "The Shop Around the Corner" (1940)
starring Jimmy Stewart, Margaret Sullavan,
Frank Morgan, Felix Bressart (Trailer)

Fun to catch scenes of
the "Lubitsch touch" just before
the crowd starts laughing.

Thursday, December 24, 2009, 10:21-10:29 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Johann Strauss, Jr.
"Die Fledermaus: Du und Du" (1874)
(Listen), CD, YouTube,
(Chinese "Fu" = bat = good fortune)

Frivolous comedy
of practical jokes
and power of champagne. Thursday, December 24, 2009, 1:20-4:30 pm
Los Altos Library: Reading Morton Marcus
when Cathy from Las Vegas surprises me.
Give her Poems 2009 & Joyce Carol Oates Notes;
Chat until 6 pm at Connie's condo apartment

Cathy recommends
Jeannette Walls's memoir
Glass Castle as fun to read.

Friday, December 25, 2009, 4:00-5:10 pm
Los Altos Hills, La Loma Drive
Took lone hike around neighborhood
of scenic hills, trees, and clouds

House at end of trail
looked like the one in
Miracle on 34th Street. Friday, December 25, 2009, 5:10-10:15 pm
Los Altos Hills, La Loma Drive
Christmas Potluck Party at Sally's
35 people came for eating & singing

Sally played the piano—
I requested "Rudolph"
and "Silent Night"

Saturday, December 26, 2009, 11:05-11:12 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,
Magic Flute: Overture, K 620, (1791)
(Listen), CD, YouTube, Notes, Freemason:
Book, Brother Mozart, Magic Flute

Saw Mozart's Magic Flute
opera in Salzburg
performed by puppeteers. Saturday, December 26, 2009, 1:00-5:00 pm
Los Altos Library: Getting web links for
Notes on "What Is Belief?"
"Miracle on 34th Street"
Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus

Getting his Oscar,
Edmund Gwenn said: "Now I know
there is a Santa Claus!"

Sunday, December 27, 2009, 11:05-11:12 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Carl Nielsen,
"The Fog Is Lifting, (1920)
(Listen), CD, YouTube

Dante placed fog in
hell and purgatory
but none in paradise. Sunday, December 27, 2009, 1:00-5:00 pm
Los Altos Library: Reading New York Times
Magazine: "The Lives They've Lived 2009"
"The Lives They've Lived 2008"

Mark Fidrych "The Bird"
was special— talking to his
baseball as he pitched.

Monday, December 28, 2009, 8:17-8:27 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Franz Joseph Haydn,
Symphony #101 in D major "Clock" (1794)
Listen, CD, YouTube

Tick tock, tick tock—
seconds, minutes, hours go by—
the clock always moving. Monday, December 28, 2009, 8:33-8:38 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Johann Sebastian Bach,
Cantata #140: Sleepers Awake (1731)
(Listen), CD, YouTube

Classical music
playing for an hour before
I woke up at last.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009, 7:50-8:01 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Robert Schumann,
Symphony #3 in E-Flat, Op. 97 "Rhenish" (1850),
(Listen), CD, YouTube

Schumann caught the flow
of Rhine River's tunes
in his Third Symphony! Tuesday, December 29, 2009, 8:30-8:35 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Aram Khachaturian,
Masquerade: Waltz (1941)
Listen, CD, YouTube

In every nook and cranny
God is hiding, playing
a great masquerade!

Wednesday, December 30, 2009, 10:10-10:19 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Ludwig van Beethoven,
Symphony #7 in A major, Op. 92 (1812)
(Listen), CD, YouTube

Beethoven's Seventh
Symphony rouses me
from sleep to wakefulness. Wednesday, December 30, 2009, 12:30-5:00 pm
Stanford University, Green Library
Notes to poem: "What Is Belief?"
Link: BBC 1959 Carl Jung Interview (Youtube)

When asked whether he
believed in God, Jung said:
"I don't believe— I know!"

Wednesday, December 30, 2009, 6:20-8:55 pm
Los Altos Library: Copying subtitles from
Andrei Tarkovsky's science fiction film
The Stalker, "Dream Sequence" (1979)

The sun became black
as sackcloth made of hair—
And the moon became blood. Wednesday, December 30, 2009, 10:15 pm
Mountain View, Latham Street
Blue Moon shining over my apartment
"Once in a Blue Moon" (Mercury News, 12-28-09)

"Pearl Eye" in the sky
with bright halo around you—
beautiful Blue Moon!

Thursday, December 31, 2009, 11:05 am
Stanford University, Galvez Street—
Seeing cloud resembling map of Cyprus
reminds me of medieval city Famagusta

Map of Cyprus cloud—
Ah Famagusta! Once the
world's wealthiest city. Thursday, December 31, 2009, 11:11 am
Stanford University: Mail box near Green Library
Mailing December bill to Pacific Gas & Electric
and found interesting acronym in "PGAE"

Mailed PG&E bill—
Place of Good— Attention
to Enlightenment.

Thursday, December 31, 2009, 11:30 am-5:00 pm
Stanford University, Green Library
Notes to poem: "What Is Belief?"
linked to Whitman's "What Is Grass?"

Whitman's "luckier"
inspired "and lucky are we
they stayed together". Thursday, December 31, 2009, 8:00-8:21 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Ernö Dohnányi,
"Variations on a Nursery Rhyme", Op. 25 (1914)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Twelve Variations (1782)

Allusions to Mozart's
"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"
and other composers.