HAIKUS: APRIL 2007

By Peter Y. Chou
WisdomPortal.com



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.

Sunday, April 1, 2007, 11:20 am
Tomaso Albinoni, Adagio in G minor (midi)
conjures up Dante, "Purgatorio" XXVIII.40-42


Matilda singing
picking flowers bloom by bloom
in the Sacred Grove.
Sunday, April 1, 2007, 2:30 pm
Friend takes me grocery shopping
at Longs & Safeway, Mountain View


Apple sauce, red grapes,
fruit cocktail and chicken broth,
Vlasic dill spears.
Sunday, April 1, 2007, 7:30 pm
Fred Astaire in "The Gay Divorcee" (1934)
dancing & singing Cole Porter's "Night & Day"


I'm longing for you,
thinking of you day & night,
just to dance with you.
Sunday, April 1, 2007, 9:10 pm
Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto
Claudette Colbert in "Cleopatra" (1934)


Conqueror of men,
Caesar & Mark Anthony—
O Cleopatra!
Monday, April 2, 2007, 10:10 am
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM radio
Two Goethe's poems inspired Felix Mendelssohn,
"Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage", Op. 27
(1830)

Two great minds meeting—
Poet inspires composer
and music flows out!
Monday, April 2, 2007, 10:50 am
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM radio
Goethe's poem "Der Zauberlehrling" inspired
Paul Dukas, "Sorcerer's Apprentice" (1897)


Mickey Mouse can't stop
brooms with buckets of water
flooding the whole house!
Tuesday, April 3, 2007, 9:35 pm
Palo Alto Cal-Train Depot
Waiting for Bus #22


Full Moon of April—
Frog Moon, Pink Moon, Planter's Moon
shines on me tonight.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007, 12:20 am
KSFO 560 AM: Coast to Coast AM
William Buhlman on Out of Body experiences


"I'm out of body"—
Repeat this for 30 days.
You'll have OBE.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007, 11:28 am
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM radio
Puccini, Gianni Schicci: "O mio babbino caro"


Pretty tune for Dad:
"Oh, my dearest papa"— sung
with such great pathos.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007, 1:00 pm
Friend takes me grocery shopping
Castro Street, Mountain View


Green onions, tofu,
Shitake mushroom dumplings,
and Do-Do fishballs.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007, 11:23 am
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM radio
Mendelssohn, Symphony #3 "Scottish"
(1842)

Horses galloping
in the Scottish countryside
hunting for foxes.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007, 1:45 pm
Cummings Art Building, Stanford University
Western tussock moth caterpillars


Dangling from the oaks,
caterpillars everywhere—
Duck or they're on you!
Wednesday, April 4, 2007, 3:00 pm
FilmStud 152: Cinema-Machine
Cummings Art 2, Stanford University


Zoom and Bored cartoon—
Coyote's traps always fail
to catch Road Runner.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007, 3:30 pm
Profs. Scott Bukatman & Pavle Levi
FilmStud 152: Cinema-Machine


Road Runner always
escapes, so Coyote keeps
on with inventions.
Thursday, April 5, 2007, 12:25 pm
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM radio
Alexander Borodin, Polovetsian Dances
(1869)

Take my hand. I'm a
stranger in paradise who's
a stranger no more.
Wednesday, April 5, 2007, 2:30 pm
Green Library, Stanford University
Medieval Studies Room, 351-D


My arm feels itchy—
It's a moth caterpillar
looking for a home.
Thursday, April 5, 2007, 9:10 pm
Fritz Lang directs Edward G. Robinson and
Joan Bennett in "Woman in the Window" (1944)


Professor gets mixed
up with woman and murder—
great suspense thriller!
Thursday, April 5, 2007, 10:30 pm
Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto
"Curse of the Cat People" (1944)


No friends in her school—
She finds solace in dreamworld
from dead stepmother.
Friday, April 6, 2007, 11:00 am
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM radio
Wagner, Die Walküre: Ride of the Valkyries
(1870)

The spa scene comes back
in Fellini's 8-1/2
crowd climbing a hill.
Friday, April 6, 2007, 12:05 pm
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM radio
Beethoven, 2nd Movement, 9th Symphony
(1824)

My mind is inspired
by Beethoven's "Ode to Joy"—
starbursts of neurons!
Friday, April 6, 2007, 8:30 pm
Waverley Writers Poetry Reading,
April's funny poem on "Turning 65"


The seniors want me—
Maybe I want to be spoiled,
perhaps even ruined.
Friday, April 6, 2007, 9:00 pm
Waverley Writers Poetry Reading,
Ron's hilarious poem on "Celebrity Suicide"


Lacquer found in blood—
Museum sales of fake antiques.
Dreamt she was a Queen.
Saturday, April 7, 2007, 12:05 pm
White Plaza, Stanford University
Stanford Ballroom Dance Team flyer


Caterpillar crawls
on a "Learn to Dance" flyer
searching for partner.
Saturday, April 7, 2007, 12:30 pm
Green Library, Stanford University
BBC News: "Fruitful Fungi"


It's global warming—
Mushrooms proliferating
in number and size!
Sunday, April 8, 2007, 10:22 am
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM radio
Joaquin Rodrigo, Concierto de Aranjuez
(1939)

Guitar tunes wake me—
Palatial gardens in Spain
with Moorish dancing.
Sunday, April 8, 2007, 10:30 pm
Bert's email requesting my article for
"Goldenrod Journal" to honor Anthony


What a joy to hear
from an old friend I've not seen
in twenty-one years.
Sunday, April 8, 2007, 5:20 pm
Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto
James Cagney as Bert in "Blonde Crazy" (1931)


He's running one scam
after another, yet Bert
has a heart of gold.
Sunday, April 8, 2007, 7:20 pm
Busby Berkeley's choreography of
"By a Waterfall" in "Footlight Parade" (1933)


Synchronized swimming—
Kaleidoscope spectacle!
Nymphs in Neptune's pool!
Monday, April 9, 2007, 10:55 am
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM radio
Gluck, "Dance of the Blessed Spirits"
(1762)

Eurydice dancing
with the Spirits. Orpheus
sings to set her free.
Monday, April 9, 2007, 3:30 pm
Scott Bukatman's FilmStud 152 lecture
Cinema-Machine: "Shape of Energy", AR2


The silent era
of Chaplin gives way to sound
era of Cagney.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007, 7:30 pm
Anneberg Auditorium, Stanford University
Fernand Léger, "Ballet Mécanique"
(1924)

Maddening motion—
modernity machines move,
wheels and pistons dance!
Tuesday, April 10, 2007, 9:00 pm
Anneberg Auditorium, Stanford University
Eisenstein, "Old and New"
(1929)

The bride is the cow—
She's shaking as the bull comes
with splashing oceans.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007, 3:00 pm
Pavle Levi's FilmStud 152 lecture
quoting Dziga Vertov (1923)


I am kino-eye.
I'm a mechanical eye,
a machine that sees.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007, 5:45 pm
Green Library, Stanford University
Web page for Marissa's 14th birthday


Lines in a sonnet,
Days for New Moon to be Full,
and square root of two.
Thursday, April 12, 2007, 11:32 am
Joshua Bell plays Tchaikovsky Op. 6,
"None But the Lonely Heart"
(1869)

Tchaikovsky's music,
Goethe's poem, and violin
to soothe the sadness.
Thursday, April 12, 2007, 12:30 pm
World Savings, Mountain View
Christine helps with banking problem


She's a rose in bloom!
Beauty enhanced by kindness—
the smile of heaven!
Friday, April 13, 2007, 7:00 am
Dream: Looking for hotel room
where Dad and Mom is staying.


Where is Dad and Mom
in this luxury hotel?
Hotel in Heaven.
Friday, April 13, 2007, 1:15 pm
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM radio
Mozart, Piano Concerto #21 in C, K467
(1785)

Lovers hand in hand—
Elvira Madigan theme,
full of soft kisses.
Friday, April 13, 2007, 3:15 pm
Walking from Bing Wing Green Library
to Pigott Hall, Stanford University


I step gingerly
around dozens of tussocks
so they won't be squashed.
Friday, April 13, 2007, 9:00 pm
Stanford Japanese Film Festival: Mikio Naruse
When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
(1960)

Keiko the geisha
remains high-minded with her
lustful clientele.
Saturday, April 14, 2007, 10:45 am
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM, Tchaikovsky,
Symphony #6, Op.74 "Pathétique"
(1893)

Upbeat Third Movement—
Allegro molto vivace
great triumphant march!
Saturday, April 14, 2007, 5:30 pm
Classics Room, Stanford Green Library
Looking out of the 3rd floor window


Dark gloomy clouds gone—
Tree branches tossing in wind
against baby blue sky.
Sunday, April 15, 2007, 11:00 am
Reading San Jose Mercury News (4-15-2007)
Frank Licsko's painting "Tree of Life"
stolen from Santana Row Gallery


Tree of Life glows in
moonlight, sunlight, yin & yang—
Circle in the Square.
Sunday, April 15, 2007, 12:50 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Joshua Bell plays Tchaikovsky,
"Meditation in D Minor", Op. 42, No.1
"Dennis the Menace" cartoon (4-10-07)


Can't decide if she
wants to be Joshua Bell or
Mrs. Joshua Bell.
Sunday, April 15, 2007, 5:20 pm
Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto, Cary Grant and
Constance Bennett in "Topper" (1937)


Vivacious ghosts prompt
stuffed-shirt banker to have some
fun and adventure.
Sunday, April 15, 2007, 7:20 pm
Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers
in "Shall We Dance" (1937)


Shall we dance all day
and night till the sun, moon, and
stars all fall in love.
Monday, April 16, 2007, 10:46 am
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM Radio
John Williams, "Star Wars: Main Theme"


Wake up to Star Wars
music— Luke the Jedi Knight
ready for battle.
Monday, April 16, 2007, 3:00 pm
Pavle Levi's FilmStud 152 lecture
on Libidinal Machines in cinema & life


Desiring machines
of libido energy
never stops flowing.
Monday, April 16, 2007, 4:00 pm
Pondering on Levi's "desiring machines can't stop"
& a solution from Patanjali's "Yoga Sutra" I.2:


Patanjali says:
"Yoga is the stopping of
mental flow of thoughts."
Tuesday, April 17, 2007, 10:50 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Clara Schumann,
"Romance #3 in B-Flat, Op.22" (1839)


Tender tunes wake me—
Clara's music inspires both
her husband and Brahms.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007, 6:30 pm
Reading NY Times article (4-17-2007)
"Karma, Karma, Karma Comes and Goes"


Karma comes and goes—
Universe gives out rewards.
He's in nirvana!
Tuesday, April 17, 2007, 10:30 pm
Cubberley Auditorium, Stanford University
Pondering on Fritz Lang, "Metropolis" (1927)


Ego runs our lives
while the real Self is asleep—
When will we wake up?
Wednesday, April 18, 2007, 1:00 pm
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM: Mozart,
"Piano Concerto #22 in Eb, K. 482" (1785)


Horses galloping
on a clear day for the hunt—
Horns leading the charge!
Wednesday, April 18, 2007, 2:40 pm
FilmStud 152 Cinema-Machine, Levi screens
Man Ray, "Return to Reason" (1923)


A jumble of nails,
UFO lights fly, coils spin,
and nude torso turns.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007, 3:20 pm
FilmStud 152 Cinema-Machine: Bukatman screens
Star Gate sequence in 2001: A Space Odyssey


We're in a tunnel
of kaleidoscopic lights—
pure visual delight!
Wednesday, April 18, 2007, 8:30 pm
Pigott Hall, Room 113, Jean Epstein,
"La Chute de la Maison Usher" (1928)


Nightmare fantasy—
House of Usher melts away
in fierce fire and wind.
Thursday, April 19, 2007, 12:30 pm
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM: Franz Lehar,
"Gold & Silver Waltzes" Op. 79 (1902)


She's off the park swing
when the waltz music comes on
and we start to dance.
Thursday, April 19, 2007, 3:30 pm
Reading "Sun's Atmosphere Sings"
on Space.com (4-18-2007)


Sun's magnetic loops
in the corona singing
like Apollo's Lyre.
Friday, April 20, 2007, 11:52 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Sergei Prokofiev,
"Romeo & Juliet: Dance of the Knights" (1936)


Music of darkness
evoking a sombre mood—
sadness of romance.
Friday, April 20, 2007, 12:30 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: George Gershwin
on composing "Rhapsody in Blue" (1924)


Rattle-ty rhythms,
music in the heart of noise—
train ride to Boston.
Friday, April 20, 2007, 7:30 pm
Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto, Alan Ladd
and Veronica Lake in "Blue Dahlia" (1946)


The blonde is singing
"It's easy to remember,
so hard to forget."
Friday, April 20, 2007, 9:40 pm
Stanford Theatre, Spencer Tracy
in "Bad Day at Black Rock" (1955)


The one-armed vet beats
the bully with karate
chops and kung-fu flings.
Saturday, April 21, 2007, 5:15 am
Reading Marshall McLuhan & Quentin Fiore,
"The Medium is the Massage" (1967)


Today's medium—
electric technology—
reshaping our lives.
Saturday, April 21, 2007, 1:30 pm
White Plaza, Stanford University
Stanford Solar Car Project display


Stanford students built
a sleek black-tiled skateboard car
powered by the sun.
Sunday, April 22, 2007, 11:55 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Camille Saint-Saëns,
"Carnival of the Animals:: The Swan" (1886)


The swan is our soul
soaring in flight— no wonder
we feel so lofty.
Sunday, April 22, 2007, 8 pm
Bookstore Fountain, Stanford University
Walking toward Clock Tower to Library


Crescent moon above—
the water fountain silent—
the clock bells strike eight.
Sunday, April 22, 2007, 5:00 pm
Stanford Theatre, Bernard Herrmann's music
in "The Devil and Daniel Webster" (1941)


The village barn dance—
Fiddles playing Devil's Trill,
Jab Stone sold his soul.
Sunday, April 22, 2007, 7:20 pm
Stanford Theatre, James Cagney
in "Yankee Doodle Dandy" (1942)


Clicking down the floor,
he dances like a puppet
prancing up the walls.
Monday, April 23, 2007, 11:48 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Johannes Brahms,
"Hungarian Dances #4, 5, 7" (1886)


Circle of dancers
doing Hungarian Czardas
faster and faster!
Monday, April 23, 2007, 12:50 pm
Totem Pole Grove, Serra Mall,
Boo-Qwilla, Stanford University


Lovely sunny day
without a cloud in the sky—
Peace prayer for all.
Monday, April 23, 2007, 3:00 pm
FilmStud 152 Cinema-Machine: Bukatman screens
Winsor McKay, "Gertie the Dinosaur"
(1914)

10,000 drawings
of ertie the Dinosaur
cartoon in motion!
Monday, April 23, 2007, 6:30 pm
Foothill College Computer Lab, Palo Alto
Web page for Emily's 18th birthday


18 holes in golf,
inches in basketball rim,
protons in argon.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007, 11:30 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: George Frederic Handel,
"Water Music" (1717)


Bubbling fountains,
ocean tides stirred by the moon,
and the music in me.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007, 1:00 pm
World Savings, Mountain View
"Meditations on 84" poem for Joy


For her kindness, here's
a basketful of wisdom
better than rubies.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007, 7:20 pm
FilmStud 152, Stanford Annenberg Auditorium
G. W. Bitzer, "New York City Subway"
(1905)

Under the city,
the subway trains takes me from
one place to the next.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007, 8:30
FilmStud 152, Annenberg Auditorium
Buster Keaton, "The General"
(1927)

They won't enlist him—
but luck comes his way to make
him a war hero.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007, 9:00 pm
FilmStud 152, Annenberg Auditorium
Ernie Gehr, "Serene Velocity"
(1970)

It's just a hallway—
The Great Square has no corners.
The Tao has no name.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007, 9:00 pm
FilmStud 152, Annenberg Auditorium
Ernie Gehr, "Serene Velocity"
(1970)

Homage to the Square!
Deep in the inner sanctum—
the Hall of Records.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007, 10:55 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Alexander Borodin,
"String Quartet #2 in D" (1881)
Kismet, "Baubles, Bangles & Beads" (1953)


He's in a bazaar
looking for pearls and a ring
as gift for his love.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007, 11:30 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Johannes Martini,
"Plaisir d'amour" (1785), adapted by
Elvis Presley, "Can't Help Falling in Love" (1961)


Can't help falling in
love with you like a river
flowing to the sea.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007, 6:55 pm
Stanford Tresidder Union, Oak East Lounge
Master Chi Hoi, "Understanding the Heart Sutra"


Listen and reflect,
meditate on emptiness—
the heart of wisdom.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007, 9:00 pm
Cubberley Auditorium, Stanford University
Prof. Bart D. Ehrman, "Misquoting Jesus"


Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
Read the Gospels side by side
to find more insight.
Thursday, April 26, 2007, 10:22 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Ralph Vaughan Williams,
"The Lark Ascending" (1914)


Rising to heaven
with his silver chain of sound,
winging up and up.
Thursday, April 26, 2007, 12:12 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Antonio Vivaldi,
"The Four Seasons: Winter" (1723)


Snow fell into me—
and my first poem "I See Joy"
flowed out to this tune.
Friday, April 27, 2007, 12:05 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Charles Gounod,
"Faust: Ballet Music" (1859)


Enticing waltz tune—
Shall I leap into the dance
for my lady fair?
Friday, April 27, 2007, 12:30 pm
Home in Mountain View writing $14.92
check for my April AT&T phone bill


1492—
phone bill from AT&T—
Columbus calling!
Friday, April 27, 2007, 9:00 pm
Cubberley Auditorium, Stanford University
Nagisa Oshima, "Cruel Story of Youth" (1960)


Japan's New Wave film—
Youth's sex & violence replace
Ozu's decorum.
Saturday, April 28, 2007, 11:00 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: Jules Massenet,
Thaïs: Meditation" (1894)


Two swans glide slowly
in the pond of the park and
the wind kisses me.
Saturday, April 28, 2007, 11:22 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Joaquín Rodrigo,
"Fantasy for a Gentleman" (1954)


He's been blind since three—
"In heaven, we'll all be sound"
was his keen insight.
Saturday, April 28, 2007, 12:05 pm
KDFC 102.1 FM: J. S. Bach, Cantata #147
"Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" (1723)
(midi)

Joy of desiring
Holy Wisdom, Love most bright—
Soar to peaceful light.
Sunday, April 29, 2007, 5:40 pm
Stanford Theatre, Bette Davis
in "Cabin in the Cotton" (1932)


"I'd let you kiss me,
but I just washed my hair. Bye!"—
that's Bette Davis!
Sunday, April 29, 2007, 7:20 pm
Stanford Theatre, Ruby Keeler
in "42nd Street" (1933)


Ruby Keeler— what
a bundle of energy—
42nd Street!
Sunday, April 29, 2007, 7:30 pm
Skipping to Palo Alto Train Depot
for Stanford Marguerite Shuttle Bus


I'm just so happy
tapping & clicking my feet
dancing down the street!
Sunday, April 29, 2007, 11:30 pm
Green Library, Bookmarking NY Times
Reading article on Angela Lansbury


She's unpretentious
acting over 60 years—
the audience loves her!
Monday, April 30, 2007, 11:20 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov,
"Scheherazade", Op. 35 (1888)


Exotic music
from 1001 Nights
wakes me up from bed.
Monday, April 30, 2007, 12:48 pm
Showers & El Camino, Mountain View
Pondering on cirrus clouds in the sky


Who painted all this?
White brushstrokes in the blue sky—
Where's the artist's brush?
Monday, April 30, 2007, 2:30 pm
When Bukatman reveals "Serene Velocity" was
shot in one night, with daybreak seen in window,
I share a Platonic epiphany with the class.


Square becomes circle!
Plato's cave allegory—
from earth to the Sun!
Monday, April 30, 2007, 3:40 pm
FilmStud 152: Reflecting on Pavle Levi's
lecture on Michel Foucault's biopolitics
and Wilhelm Reich's "character-armor"


The Ego-I forms
as we grow older— why not
the Cosmic-Eye too?



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© Peter Y. Chou, Wisdom Portal
P.O. Box 390707, Mountain View, CA 94039
email: (4-2-2007)