Monthly Archives: December 2010

THE OLD YEAR NOW HAS PASSED AWAY

Posted on December 31, 2010 by

For some of you, it is already the New Year — 2011. In the old hokku calendar we are still over a month away from the New Year, which comes on February 4th — just at the edge of spring. … Continue reading →

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CONTEMPLATIVE HOKKU IN WINTER

Posted on December 28, 2010 by

Contemplative hokku are those which best exemplify the poverty, simplicity, and selflessness that are the chief virtues of hokku.  And these, along with the appreciation of the inherent poetry in a simple thing-event, set in the context of the seasons … Continue reading →

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HOKKU, HAIKU, HACKETT, HISTORY AND ZEN

Posted on December 26, 2010 by

Here  – for convenience — I have combined and slightly revised several earlier articles explaining how Western haiku enthusiasts thoroughly confused hokku and haiku in the 20th century, completely misunderstanding not only hokku but its connection to “Zen,” and thoroughly … Continue reading →

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SNOW AND THE POETRY OF NO POETRY

Posted on December 23, 2010 by

One of the most beautiful Christmas carols is “In the Bleak Midwinter,” with words by Christina Rossetti, set to wonderfully appropriate music by Gustav Holst.  Most of the words have specific religious content and are of little interest to me … Continue reading →

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