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, January 1, 2009, 10:03-10:12 am KDFC 102.1 FM: Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony #1 in C major, Op. 21 (1800) (Listen) (CD) (YouTube) First day of the year— I wake up to Beethoven's Symphony #1	Thursday, January 1, 2009, 10:19-10:25 am KDFC 102.1 FM: Johannes Brahms Hungarian Dance #1 in G minor (1868) (Listen) (CD) (YouTube) Hungarian dancers swirl and leap to music waves of love and longing.
Thursday, January 1, 2009, 11:36-11:45 am KDFC 102.1 FM: Tomasso Albinoni, Adagio in G minor (1958), (Listen), CD, YouTube From Dresden debris to heavenly heights— phoenix helps our soul to soar.	Thursday, January 1, 2009, 12:27-12:32 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Johann Pachelbel, Canon in D major (1680) (Listen), CD, YouTube The mind of a monk composed this peaceful music in silent stillness.
Thursday, January 1, 2009, 3:00 pm Los Alamitos Creek Trail, San Jose Friend takes me hiking (Photos) Arch of aspen trees with yellow leaves— Biker says "Pretty, isn't it?"	Thursday, January 1, 2009, 3:34 pm Los Alamitos Creek Trail, Pfeiffer Bridge Streams of wu & wu wei (Photos) View from Pfeiffer Bridge— Rapid stream & still waters— action & non-action.
Thursday, January 1, 2009, 4:07 pm Summerleaf Place & Bret Harte Dr., San Jose At the end of our Alamitos Creek Trail hike, saw rock with funny crooked mouth (Photos) His mouth is crooked— Joker is the only one making fun of the King.	Thursday, January 1, 2009, 4:30-5:45 pm Starbucks, Almaden Center, San Jose Dan treats me peppermint mocha coffee, Chat with nieces Emily and Marissa Great to see my nieces to exchange New Year gifts and chat on poetry.
Friday, January 2, 2009, 12:42-12:48 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Johann Pachelbel, Canon & Gigue in D major (1680) (Listen), CD, YouTube Played on period instruments Pachelbel's Canon dives into the soul.	Friday, January 2, 2009, 12:48-1:03 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Felix Mendelssohn Midsummer Night's Dream Overture, Op. 21 (1826) (Listen) (CD) (YouTube) Composed when he was just seventeen— this music shows his budding genius.
Friday, January 2, 2009, 2:30-3:00 pm Galvez Street, Stanford University Finding eucalyptus gum-nut with cross and star on the same twig Why can't Muslims & Christians co-exist when star & cross do so on the same branch?	Friday, January 2, 2009, 7:30-9:30 pm Friends' House, 957 Colorado Avenue, Palo Alto Waverley Writers Monthly Poetry Reading— Read poems "Moon Meditation" & "ABC Book" They liked poems I read— "Moon Meditation" and "ABC Book for New Year".
Saturday, January 3, 2009, 8:48-8:55 am KDFC 102.1 FM: Ludwig van Beethoven The Creatures of Prometheus: Finale (1892) (Listen) CD, YouTube Prometheus brought us fire and was punished— why God is so possessive?	Saturday, January 3, 2009, 9:50-10:00 am KDFC 102.1 FM: Johann Strauss, Jr. Voices of Spring, Op. 410 (1883) (Listen) (CD) (YouTube) Will Voices of Spring bring us warmer weather in these cold winter days?
Sunday, January 4, 2009, 2:00-3:00 pm Mountain View: Grant Road Friend takes me grocery shopping at 99 Ranch Market Sesame balls, spring rolls, sesame oil, lotus root, tofu, and bean curd.	Sunday, January 4, 2009, 3:00-3:30 pm Mountain View: Grant Road Friend takes me grocery shopping at Nob Hill Market Sesame sticks, soy nuts, raspberry muesli, and fresh blueberries.
Monday, January 5, 2008, 10:26-10:33 am KDFC 102.1 FM: Jean-Philippe Rameau Le Temple de la Gloire: Suite (1745) Listen, (CD), YouTube, Biography Temple of Glory— where Knight Templars gathered to find the Holy Grail.	Monday, January 5, 2008, 10:33 pm-10:43 am KDFC 102.1 FM: Pablo de Sarasate Zigeunerweisen "Gypsy Airs" Op. 20 (1878) Listen, (CD), YouTube Sarasate's Gypsy Airs sets my heart on fire— I want to sing and dance!
Tuesday, January 6, 2008, 12:08-12:11 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: John Stanley Trumpet Voluntary (18th century) Listen, (CD), YouTube Epiphany Day— Three Wise Men brought gold, myrrh, frankincense for Christ Child.	Tuesday, January 6, 2008, 1:00-2:00 pm Mountain View, California Street: Friend takes me grocery shopping at Safeway 44 fish sticks, mozarella string cheese, Bing cherries, nonfat milk.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009, 12:46-12:59 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Symphony #6 in B, Op. 74 "Pathetique" (1893) (Listen), CD, YouTube A stirring march to action— what will you do with the rest of your life?	Wednesday, January 7, 2009, 12:59-1:35 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36 (1802) (Listen) (CD) (YouTube) Analysis Wrote this when he was suicidal— much sorrow drowning out his bliss.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009, 3:00 pm Memorial Court, Stanford University On my way to Mark Doty's Poetry Workshop found Bracewell's mulberry tree in the Quad Ah!— hundred year old mulberry tree in the quad— I sit on it with joy!	Wednesday, January 7, 2009, 3:15-5:00 pm Building 80-113, Stanford University English 192V: "The Occasions of Poetry" Poetry Workshop with Mark Doty Read Whitman's Leaves of Grass— I feel so lucky to be in this class!
Thursday, January 8, 2009, 2:05-2:10 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Eugene Ormandy conducts George Frederick Handel, Xerxes: Ombra mai fu "Largo" (1738) (Listen), CD, YouTube (#94 in 2009 Poll) Plane Tree gives the King shade in his yard so he loves it more than his wives.	Thursday, January 8, 2009, 2:12-2:17 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Johannes Brahms Contemplation, Op. 105: #1 (arr. Heifetz/Reynolds) "Wie Melodien zieht es mir" (1886) Listen, CD, YouTube, Queries Contemplation— not in the temple but within yourself is the Light.
Friday, January 9, 2009, 1:08-1:47 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Johannes Brahms Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77 (1878) (Listen), CD, YouTube (#94 in 2009 Poll) Itzhak Perlman plays the lovely Adagio piece with lyrical beauty.	Friday, January 9, 2009, 3:00-10:00 pm Stanford Art Library & Green Library Typing Quotes on Belief from "Bartlett's Quotations" Lewis Carroll," Alice Through the Looking Glass" "I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."
Sunday, January 11, 2009, 1:00-6:00 am Home in Mountain View: Reading Plato "Theaetetus" (pp. 845-919) translated by F.M. Cornford on "What is knowledge?" Good memory is like clear imprint on smooth wax not blurred or muddy.	Sunday, January 11, 2009, 1:00-6:00 am Home in Mountain View: Reading Plato "Theaetetus" (pp. 845-919) translated by F.M. Cornford on "What is knowledge?" Knowledge is neither perception or true belief but what we don't know.
Sunday, January 11, 2009, 11:53 am-12:04 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: George Frederick McKay, "Meditation: Song over the Great Plains" (1953), (Listen), CD, McKay's Music Rockies and great plains inspired McKay to compose this Meditation.	Sunday, January 11, 2009, 2:05-2:10 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Gustav Holst The Planets: Mars, Op. 32/H 125 (1916) Listen, CD, YouTube Mars— "Bringer of War" is drumming with legions of warriors on the march.
Sunday, January 11, 2009, 2:45-6:45 pm Art Library, Stanford University Wrote a new poem "What Is Belief?" in the style of Whitman's "What is Grass?" for Mark Doty's Poetry Workshop class. Plato inspired me to write this poem on belief done in four hours time.	Sunday, January 11, 2009, 7:00-8:55 pm Stanford Green Library, Media Center "The Name of the Rose" (1986), directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, starring Sean Connery, Christian Slater, & F. Murray Abraham William of Baskerville plays mentor to young monk who's eager to learn.
Sunday, January 11, 2009, 7:00-8:55 pm Stanford Green Library, Media Center "The Name of the Rose" (1986), directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, starring Sean Connery, Christian Slater, & F. Murray Abraham The monks cannot laugh so they hid Aristotle's Comedy from view.	Sunday, January 11, 2009, 10:00-11:52 pm Stanford Flicks: Kenny Ortega directs "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" (2008), starring Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, and (Lucas Grabeel Kids with energy in their high school senior play leaping and dancing!
Monday, January 12, 2009, 11:25-11:31 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Diane Hidy plays Johann Sebastian Bach (Listen) (CD) (YouTube) (1725) Anna Magdalena Bach Notebook: Little Suite Light jovial music for dancing the minuet composed by Bach's wife.	Monday, January 12, 2009, 12:03-12:49 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Hilary Hahn plays Ludwig van Beethoven Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61 (1806) (Listen) (CD) (YouTube: David Oistrakh) Hilary Hahn plays this Beethoven piece with such warmth and tenderness.
Monday, January 12, 2009, 5:00-6;15 pm Stanford Green Library, Media Center "The Name of the Rose" (1986), directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud starring Sean Connery & Christian Slater Watching DVD Commentary by Annaud on film's medieval authenticity Illuminated pages were painted by monks in half a year's time.	Monday, January 12, 2009, 7:00-8:10 pm Building 320 (Geology Corner), Room 105 Presidential Lecture by Professor Daniel C. Dennett "The Evolution of 'Why' as the Key to Free Will" Standing room only with over 100 people outside. Dennett's acronym for DARWIN in Latin: Delere Auctorem Rerum Ut Universum Infinitum Noscere Destroy the Author of things in order to understand this infinite universe.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009, 1:01-1:38 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Gil Shaham plays Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35 (1878) (Listen), CD, YouTube Difficult to play, this violin concerto has become a favorite.	Tuesday, January 13, 2009, 4:00-5:30 pm Stanford Humanities Center: Presidential Lecture Discussion with Professor Daniel C. Dennett "The Evolution of 'Why' as the Key to Free Will" Dennett autographs his photo-flyer afterwards. He signs his name left-handed with D's in swirling spiral galaxies.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 1:00 pm Home in Mountain View: Friend's phone call wakes me up. Went to bed at 5:30 am cleaning up apartment for today's smoke alarm inspection & overslept two hours as radio alarm didn't go on. Inspector only looked at six random apartments while I slept soundly.	Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 3:15-6:05 pm Building 80-113, Stanford University Mark Doty's "Occasions of Poetry" Workshop Doty shows class Whitman's photos 1 & 2 and Edison recording of Whitman reading "America" Doty makes photo & audio presentation of Whitman as a budding poet.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 3:15-6:05 pm Building 80-113, Stanford University Mark Doty's "Occasions of Poetry" Workshop Doty asks each of us to read a line of Whitman's "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry" I'm out of breath reading this one line of Whitman going on for three pages!	Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 3:15-6:05 pm Building 80-113, Stanford University English 192V: "The Occasions of Poetry" Poetry Workshop with Mark Doty Read "What Is Belief?" for class critique They liked the ending but the prosy beginning needs some more pruning.
Thursday, January 15, 2009, 11:45-11:49 am KDFC 102.1 FM: Ottorino Respighi, Gli Uccelli, "The Birds" (1927) (Listen) CD, YouTube Transcribing birdsongs into music— when well done it can make us fly!	Thursday, January 15, 2009, 11:49-11:54 am KDFC 102.1 FM: Ludovico Einaudi "Two Sunsets" (Due Tramonti) (2003) CD, (Listen), YouTube Two sunsets— Give me the Real Sun that does not change in waking, dream, and sleep.
Friday, January 16, 2009, 10:46-10:52 am KDFC 102.1 FM: George Frederic Handel, Water Music: Suite #1 in F major (1717) (Listen) CD, YouTube Water music for King George I on royal barge on River Thames.	Friday, January 16, 2009, 11:04-11:33 am KDFC 102.1 FM: Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony #5 in C minor, Op. 67 (1807) (Listen) (CD) (YouTube) Opening four chords of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony— best known in music.
Saturday, January 17, 2009, 2:00-7:00 am Mountain View: Writing "Song of the Self" in the style and response to Whitman's poem "Song of Myself" for Mark Doty's Workshop Stop the flow of thoughts and you shall find the secret origin of poems.	Saturday, January 17, 2009, 12:48-12:52 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Mikhail Glinka, Farewell to St. Petersburg: #10 The Lark (1840) (Listen) CD, YouTube Glinka's Lark music reminds me of William Blake's 28th Lark flying.
Sunday, January 18, 2009, 5:00-10:00 am Mountain View: Writing "Song of the Self" in the style and response to Whitman's poem "Song of Myself" for Mark Doty's Workshop Write and write and write— the sound of one hand clapping— sound of one hand writing!	Sunday, January 18, 2009, 4:30 pm Mountain View: Rudy comes from Sunnyvale to give me ride to Stanford Art Library & home. He studies JavaScript while I write my poem Rudy gives me ride home so I could get more sleep instead of staying till 1 am.
Monday, January 19, 2009, 2:00-7:00 am Mountain View: Finished "Song of the Self" poem by reading Plotinus's "Enneads V.1.2" which St. Augustine quoted in "Confessions" Let me contemplate on the Great Soul— Be still. Let the Spirit flow in.	Monday, January 19, 2009, 4:00 pm Galvez Street, Stanford University Shuttle Buses not running on holiday, so I found more eucalyptus wands Found eucalyptus branch with cross & star gum-nuts together in peace.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009, 10:45 am Mountain View: Rudy's phone call wakes me up Tells me to listen to Obama's Inaugural Poem read by Elizabeth Alexander "Praise Song for the Day" On the brink, the brim, the cusp— praise song for walking forward in that light.	Tuesday, January 20, 2009, 6:00 pm-1:00 am Green Library, Stanford University Condensed poem "Song of the Self" from four typed pages to three pages Tossed out stanza on Twenty-eight is a perfect number and the Moon.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009, 1:45-2:45 pm Los Altos, Los Altos Library Friend takes me to library to print out poem for Doty's class Got 15 copies of "Song of the Self" poem printed and stapled.	Wednesday, January 21, 2009, 3:15-5:00 pm Building 80-113, Stanford University Mark Doty's Workshop: Students read poems in response to Whitman's "Song of Myself" Students' takeoff on Whitman's "Song of Myself"— refined and refreshing.
Thursday, January 22, 2009, 7:00-9:30 pm Cubberley Auditorium, Stanford University Japanese Anime films: Satoshi Kon directs "Paprika" (2006) on dream machine Dream machine playing back your night fantasies will reveal the real you.	Thursday, January 22, 2009, 10:00 pm Green Library, Stanford University Email from Richard on web site Newseum with U.S. map of cities linked to newspaper frontpage. Read today's headlines in all U.S. newspapers clicking city dots.
Friday, January 23, 2009, 11:38-11:50 am KDFC 102.1 FM: Hector Berlioz, Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14 (1830) (Listen) CD, YouTube: Fourth Movement March to the scaffold— guillotine blades descends— head rolls into basket!	Friday, January 23, 2009, 3:00-10:00 pm Art Library & Green Library, Stanford University Writing Notes to Poem: "Song of the Self" Read Plotinus's "Enneads V.1.2" Why honor the Soul elsewhere running after things— Honor then yourself!
Saturday, January 24, 2009, 10:21-10:29 am KDFC 102.1 FM: Antonin Dvorak, Rusalka: Song to the Moon (1900) (Listen) CD, YouTube Let me sing in this dark night so the New Moon may rise and shine brightly!	Saturday, January 24, 2009, 2:00-5:00 pm Art Library, Stanford University Writing Notes to Poem: "Song of the Self" Last line: "I go everywhere waiting for you." Found this anagram for Plotinus— "Plot in us"— story of our Soul!
Saturday, January 24, 2009, 6:39-7:02 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony #9 in D minor, Op. 125 (1824) (Listen) (CD) (YouTube) Analysis Beethoven is bold using Schiller's "Ode to Joy" for the human voice.	Saturday, January 24, 2009, 7:28-7:34 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Jules Massenet, Thaïs: Meditation (1894) Listen, CD, YouTube Why meditate and go within?— for inside us is the sap, the Soul.
Sunday, January 25, 2009, 11:28-11:35 am KDFC 102.1 FM: Felix Mendelssohn Symphony #2 in Bb "Song of Praise" (1959) (Listen), CD, YouTube Praise the air we breathe, water we drink, food we eat— Praise to be alive!	Sunday, January 25, 2009, 12:55-1:05 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Adagio from Sleeping Beauty, Op. 66a (1889) (Listen), CD, YouTube Sleep is beautiful for silence and stillness take us back to the Self.
Sunday, January 25, 2009, 5:00 pm Art Library, Stanford University Reading Whitman Archive: Horace Traubel's "With Walt Whitman in Camden" Saturday, July 14, 1888 Mystery and reason— two halves of the same sphere— wings way up in the air.	Sunday, January 25, 2009, 10:00-11:40 pm Stanford Flicks: Joel & Ethan Coen directs "Burn After Reading" (2008), starring George Clooney, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand, & Brad Pitt Brad Pitt— so funny in this anti-spy thriller and black comedy.
Monday, January 26, 2009, 1:00-1:28 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Chen Gang / He Zhanhao Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto (1959) (Listen), CD, YouTube Butterfly lovers— more than Romeo and Juliet— soul's love for Great Soul.	Monday, January 26, 2009, 4:00 pm Middlefield Computer Lab, Palo Alto Friend email wishes "Happy New Year!" Chinese Year 4707— Year of the Ox Ox gets along well with Rooster and Snake because they're four years apart.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009, 12:59-1:35 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Piano Concerto #27 in Bb, K. 595 (1791) Listen, (CD) YouTube It's Mozart's birthday— greatest musical genius the world has ever known.	Tuesday, January 27, 2009, 3:00-4:00 pm Book Buyers, Castro Street, Mountain View Searched for Whitman's "Leaves of Grass" and Richard Bucke's "Cosmic Consciousnes" Found Mark Doty's Source, Bucke's Cosmic Consciousness, and Dulac's Rubaiyat.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009, 4:30-5:30 pm Mountain View: Friend takes me shopping at New Castro Street Market, 99 Ranch, and Nob Hill Market (Grant Road) Green onions, bok choy, tofu, bean curd, bran dough, broccoli crowns and eggs.	Tuesday, January 27, 2009, 6:14-7:00 pm Mountain View, Showers Drive: Riding Stanford Shuttle Bus to Tresidder Union. Marked up Gary Schmidgall's edition of "Song of Myself" Marked the 52 sections of Whitman's "Song of Myself" in his first edition.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 10:46-10:48 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Bedrich Smetana, Bartered Bride: Furiant (1870) Listen, (CD) YouTube Whitman: "I turn the bridegroom out of bed and stay with the bride myself."	Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 12:40-2:20 pm Palo Alto: Foothill Middlefield Computer Lab Web page: Whitman's "Leaves of Grass" (1855) 52 Section #s & Line #s for "Song of Myself" Lost much of this work when computer crashed last night— Finished it today.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 2:30-3:35 pm Palo Alto, Middlefield Road: waiting for Bus #35 Mountain View, El Camino: waiting for Bus #22 Walked up Galvez St. to Stanford Building 80-113 All the buses late— Walked up Galvez to Doty's class an half-hour late.	Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 3:35-6:00 pm Building 80-113, Stanford University Mark Doty's Poetry Workshop: Discussion of Whitman's "Song of Myself" & Ginsberg's "Howl" Ginsberg's lines in "Howl" even longer than Whitman's— roller coaster ride!
Thursday, January 29, 2009, 11:38-11:50 am KDFC 102.1 FM: Gustavo Dudamel conducts Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony #5 in C minor, Op. 67 (1807) (Listen) (CD) (YouTube) Four notes to the Real— Waking, Dream, Sleep, Turiya— for the Awakened!	Thursday, January 29, 2009, 2:52-3:01 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 Am I hungry for the trout or the music? Why not enjoy them both!
Thursday, January 29, 2009, 7:00-8:30 pm Piggott Hall, Building 260-113, Stanford University Judith M. Bennett, Professor of History, USC, Death & the Maiden: From Chaucer to Pearl Jam (History Matters) (Interview) (Web Publications) Art history survey of "Death and Maidenhood" from myth to pop songs.	Thursday, January 29, 2009, 8:45 pm-1:00 am Art Library & Green Library, Stanford University Repairing damaged file "Haikus-May2008" & Catching up on haikus from last ten days because of poem & notes on "Song of the Self" Abandoned haikus for ten days while writing long poem "Song of the Self".
Friday, January 30, 2009, 11:24-11:31 am KDFC 102.1 FM: Los Angeles Guitar Quartet plays Luigi Boccherini, Quintet #4 for 2 Violins, Viola, and 2 Cellos in D major, "Fandango" (1788), (Listen), CD, YouTube, Notes Fandango wakes me up— but I'm too tired to dance to this rousing tune.	Friday, January 30, 2009, 1:03-1:41 pm KDFC 102.1 FM: Osmo Vänskä conducts Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony #4 in B-flat, Op. 60 (1806) (Listen) (CD) (YouTube) Schumann describes this as a slender Greek maiden between two Norse Gods.
Saturday, January 31, 2009, 10:30-10:45 am Mountain View: Phone chat with Rudy as he asks "Since energy cannot be created or destroyed, where does our energy go when we die?" (Laws of Conservation of Matter & Energy) Whitman says "I know I am deathless"— Energy is flowing through him!	Saturday, January 31, 2009, 11:06-11:15 am KDFC 102.1 FM: Johann Strauss, Jr. "Die Fledermaus: Overture" (1874) (Listen), CD, YouTube, (Chinese "Fu" = bat = good fortune) The bat is lucky in China since Fu for "bat" sounds like "good fortune".

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© Peter Y. Chou, Wisdom Portal P.O. Box 390707, Mountain View, CA 94039 email: (1-7-2009)