Long Camellia Poems

Zen Death Haiku

Brittle cicada shell,
little did I know
you were my life!
—Shuho, translation by Michael R. Burch

Returning
as it came,
this naked worm.
—Shidoken, translation by Michael R. Burch

As dew glistens
on a lotus leaf,
so too I soon must vanish.
—Shinsui,...

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These are translations of some of the oldest Japanese waka, which evolved into tanka, renga and haiku. 

While you decline to cry,
high on the mountainside
a single stalk of plumegrass wilts.
—O no Yasumaro (circa 711), translation...

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This is a translation from the poem "Camellia", by Rabindranath Tagore, Nobel laureate Poet from India (1861 -1941) Understandably the story took place in late nineteenth century - early twentieth century Bengal. 



Her name is...

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SECOND part of the translation from Rabindranath Tagore's Poem "CAMELLIA'"


I was on my travel carrying the plant in a pot.
Found out, the co-passenger was not an easy co-traveller,
In a two-compartment vehicle,
I hid the plant in...

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I was an experienced interior designer, whose specialty was outer doors,
Ever opening to amber sunshine, as petals open, when vivid beams pour.

Functionality and beauty were very vital, so I helped customers each day,
To choose materials,...

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In the moorlands of desires, 
I've forever sung choruses of
fertile faith, amidst the flock 
of bleeding birds, sprinkling
heartbeats on lush olive herbs, 
In the dream of retracing their 
scintillating season of beachy spring. 
'Hope' had...

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ZEN DEATH HAIKU XI

These are my modern English translations of Japanese Zen Death Haiku. 

Above the garden
the camellia tree blossoms
whitely...
—Uejima Onitsura, loose translation by Michael R. Burch

Moonlit hailstones: 
the night hawks return.
—Uejima Onitsura, loose translation...

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Shivering shimmers of scars passed out of my scarlet, scarred past. My ginger demons engulfed the fermented pain as I watched my regal orchid—the fussiest, sacred damsel who jitterbugs as an exiled seraph. Her candlelight...

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Ode to Flowers

                                ...

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I woke up to the soft  
marigold melodies
of whistling waves,  
reverberating in  
turquoise tunes,  
stirring the sleeping  
sunrise within my soul,  
while the hermit crabs,  
soaked in salty...

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I trace bitter trials of
        another Helios spark~
as a collapsed marionette,
barely seeing colors of clarity,
between onyx-glazed flames, 
tangled in the hollow temple
carved in medieval calligraphies,
bleeding seething scars,
incensed with...

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We know her as Camellia...that fine name,
a perfect one for someone sweet as she;
her silky skin and amber eyes proclaim
a charming, pristine beauty, all agree.

Just like the flower's petals, pure and white
are shaped into a...

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SNOW WHITE


          Sparkling snow shows dazzling show.
           Jingle bells nod heads to and fro,
  ...

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In yard inside my haven home structure
appeared brown bear 
depressing during 
the darkest coldest times of the year
color is absent fragrance non clear
Blow the blossoms flowers are
winter still pansies and viola

My heart soul warm by...

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Applesauce Cake

Once again autumn’s jubilee of gold and umber leaves
Drifts on a lazy Sunday morning rain
Past kitchen windows
Where scents of coffee and frying bacon
Walk hand in hand
Then race each other up the stairs
To look for...

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And if finally, instead of opening your new phone,
You looked at your garden calmly languid,
You stroked the broad leaves of the green fig,
Listen to the hot rhododendron song,

If you took the time to do nothing...

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I grew up amongst every kind of plant and flower,
Beyond our gate was the garden of dear mother;
This Eden was colourful, tangled and so sensational,
So erratic, untamed and just totally unmanageable.

Mother knew the Latin...

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in Pando's shadow a young maiden sings
wander'd to and fro peat bog feet sloshing
auburn locks adorned in daisy crowned rings
quite unaware that something was watching 

one with thick skinned carion heart at core
to scavenge Middlemist's...

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WELCOME AUTUMN

       Sunny scorching show of summer season
       now to drop curtain with storms and rainfall.
       Cerulean...

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My heart seeks the smoky quartz sage within you, in secret,
like a solitary star adrift in the whimsical wilderness.
For I remember your voice, that manifested mellifluous musicality,
nurturing vain verses to thrive like lavender-incensed lilies,
glowing with...

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Autumn Colors

           Deciduous trees shed withered leaves.
           Amazing Autumn firmly believes
    ...

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A single red Rose sits on the corner

 of the yellow linen draped table

in the open air cobblestone courtyard.

Under the star filled moonlit midnight sky

 romance sings as the piano plays.

In walks you

just as sweet...

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UNSPOKEN    SOUL

She was all lost; fantasized a world
On the bitumen, none resembled her
Binnacles kept empty; let gusty waves guide her
Bid  goodbye  to  a  silent  night  under...

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At the end of winter's cold
     And the beginning of spring
           While the Camellias still bloom
     ...

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Words are not enough
Language of April showers
Say it with flowers.

Gracious camellia
Daintily posing, but in vain
Begonia lost in thought.

Desirable
Hopes teeming with ambition
Of a stargazer.

From friendship to love
Exchanging yellow petals
With the deepest red.

Delicate beauty
Of hibiscus in full...

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