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Word and Image

6/11/2014

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Picture
Many of the great haiku poets were also artists and calligraphers. Their drawings and haiku were often companion pieces, meant to be enjoyed together. When I learned of this aspect of the form, I decided to combine some of my photographs with haiku. This is by no means the same as the tradition of drawing and haiku in one presentation, but I credit the tradition with giving me this inspiration. I hope you enjoy these images and poems as much as I enjoyed making them.


Poets

Words to the future
Dry phrases among the sand
Where we come ashore



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Catkins - The Next Iteration

6/5/2014

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An experiment with Haiban

For a few days in April the yellow pollen of our neighborhood trees covered my porch, barbecue grill, and outdoor table. They activated allergies of friend and foe alike, and crtainly caused increased sales of over the counter antihistamines at local drugstores. Local folklore, probably based in fact, has it that more kinds of pollen occur here in the Tennessee Valley than anywhere else in the world, except for some unnamed valley in China. I heard the same statement about Cincinnati when I was a child there.

Meanwhile, I noticed an accumulation of catkins in the bed of my pickup truck.

Catkins cover land
Yellow dust lies everywhere
Fertile acorns grow

These particular catkins were the male flowers of an oak tree, but several species of trees have this type of flower. The cylindrical structures indeed cover the land. I have heard them referred to as "wormy looking," though the name is said to be derived from their hairy covering and resemblance to a kitten’s tail. Land owners and landscaping companies spend hours raking them up and moving them to more expendable parts of the landscape.

Catkins may hold male or female flowers, but unlike the illustrations in schoolroom science books, they never contain both male and female reproductive structures (anthers and style). The catkins on oak trees hold only male flowers. Female flower parts appear in separate, individual flowers.

I see the falling catkins as I see many recurring natural events. They indicate that life continues. The seasons continue to change, the earth produces its bounty, and I greet the rising sun with exercises which keep my heart pumping and my joints limber. As my Tai Ji instructor puts it, “we keep moving so we can keep moving.”

Flowers fall from oak
Warm sun passes equinox
House wren sings from branch


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June 04th, 2014

6/4/2014

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Picture
An experiment with Haiban

There were a few days in April when the yellow pollen of our neighborhood trees covered my porch, my barbecue grill, and outdoor table. They activated allergies of friend and adversary alike, and likely caused increased sales of over the counter antihistamines at local drugstores. Local folklore, probably based in fact, has it that more kinds of pollen occur here in the Tennessee Valley than anywhere else in the world, except for some unnamed valley in China. I heard the same statement about Cincinnati when I was a child there.

Meanwhile, I noticed an accumulation of catkins in the bed of my pickup truck.

Catkins cover land
Yellow dust lies everywhere
Fertile acorns grow

These particular catkins were the male flowers dropped by an oak tree, but several species of trees have this type of flower. The cylindrical structures indeed cover the land. I have heard them referred to as "wormy looking," though the name is said to be derived from their hairy covering and resemblance to a kitten’s tail. Land owners and landscaping companies send hours raking them up and moving them to more expendable parts of the landscape.

Catkins may hold male or female flowers, but unlike the illustrations in schoolroom science books, they never contain both male and female reproductive structures (anthers and style). The catkins on oak trees hold only male flowers. Female flower parts appear in separate, individual flowers on oak trees.

Like all annual events, I see the falling catkins as indication that life continues. The seasons continue to change, the earth produces its bounty, and I great the rising sun with exercises which keep my heart pumping and my joints limber. As my Tai Ji instructor puts it, “we keep moving so we can keep moving.”

Flowers fall from oak
Warm sun passes equinox
House wren sings from branch

See my reviews at Ray's Reviews 2,  http://rayzimmerman.blogspot,com 


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