Monthly Archives: August 2010

MY NEW BOOK: A TIME OF GHOSTS

Posted on August 24, 2010 by

For those of you who may wish to know, my latest book is now available (see update below).  It is the remarkable story of a long-time friend of mine who was born to a wealthy and powerful family in China … Continue reading →

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HOKKU IS NOT HAIKU, AND VICE-VERSA

Posted on August 19, 2010 by

From time to time I like to remind people why I use historically-accurate terminology here, instead of the inaccurate, anachronistic, and very misleading and confusing term “haiku.”  Bashō called what he wrote hokku, as a part of his practice of … Continue reading →

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THE WHEEL OF THE YEAR

Posted on August 17, 2010 by

I like to repeat this posting each year at this time: In her bittersweet children’s book Tuck Everlasting, Natalie Babbitt writes: “The first week of August hangs at the very top of summer, the top of the live-long year, like … Continue reading →

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SNAILS, LOCKS, AND BRUSHWOOD GATES

Posted on August 3, 2010 by

In Japan, Issa’s hokku have always been remarkably popular.  And they are popular in the West as well — at least the better known verses, among which one finds this: The brushwood gate; Instead of a lock, A snail. But … Continue reading →

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