HAIKUS: MARCH 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.

Thursday, March 1, 2007, 11:25 am
Chopin on KDFC 102.1 FM Radio:
Fantaisie-Impromptu in C-sharp minor, Op. 66


My canoe coasts up
the Amazon River and
bird songs fill the air.
Thursday, March 1, 2007, 2:15 pm
Mountain View Recycle Center
Terra Bella Ave. (Highway 101/85)


The highway wall blocks
traffic noise, but on this side—
art sculptures of cranes.
Friday, March 2, 2007, 5:55 pm
Including Albert Einstein for
Pinsky's Poetry Anthology


It's monumental!
E=mc2— so
simple, so precise.
Saturday, March 3, 2007, 6:45 pm
Shopping Express, El Camino, Palo Alto
Seeing Full Moon in window on bus


Maple Sugar Moon—
warm fuzzy glow shines on me
on my bus ride home.
Sunday, March 4, 2007, 3:00 pm
Pinsky's Stanford Poetry Workshop
Rachel's "I'm Trying to Reason with You"


Mozart and Monet—
morning light and morning life—
Are they not the same?
Sunday, March 4, 2007, 3:45 pm
Pinsky suggests doing anonymous poems
for last class, and Nadja requests:


Couldn't we pick your brain
instead of doing our poems?—
"Sure, we can do that."
Sunday, March 4, 2007, 5:55 pm
Stanford Green Library: Finding the text of
Han Yu's "Address to the Crocodiles" (819 AD)


Poet in action—
"If you don't leave, I'll shoot you
with poison arrows."
Monday, March 5, 2007, 10:30 am
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM Radio
Fritz Kreisler, "Liebesfreud & Liebesleid"


Love's joy, Love's sorrow—
sunrise, sunset— day & night
Sun's always shining!"
Tuesday, March 6, 2007, 12:30 pm
Pinsky signed 4 books for Bill Morrison
after Pinsky's Stanford Poetry Colloquium


Bill shows me Pinsky's
autograph— big R and P
so round, so open!
Wednesday, March 7, 2007, 8:30 am
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM Radio
Beethoven, "Piano Concerto #3"


Should I catch my bus?
No! I'm not running out while
Beethoven's playing!"
Wednesday, March 7, 2007, 8:50 am
Walking to Showers Drive for Bus #23
on Latham Street, Mountain View


Crow flies, lands, and stops
at the middle of the road
playing traffic cop.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007, 1:00 pm
Krause Center, Foothill College
Compiling Poetry Anthology for Pinsky


I regret to say
so many good poets are
left behind my Ark.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007, 6:00 pm
Pinsky asked class to send three letters
critiquing each other's poetry.


Received three letters—
John and Rachel from the class
and my Professor!
Thursday, March 8, 2007, 12:30 am
Seeing the Moon at Stanford Oval
waiting for Midnight Express Bus


The Moon smiles at me:
"Anthology is finished—
You may relax now."
Thursday, March 8, 2007, 12:30 pm
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM radio
Tamaso Albinoni, "Adagio in G Minor"


Sleeping by the stream,
Chuang Tzu dreams: "Am I a man
or a butterfly?"
Thursday, March 8, 2007, 9:00 pm
I prove to Rudy that his soul
is not in his brain but his heart.


Someone shouts "Rudy!"
You don't point to your head but
to your heart— "Who, me?"
Friday, March 9, 2007, 10:15 am
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM radio
Johann Pachelbel "Canon in D"


Blondin on tightrope
crossing the Niagara
calmly on his toes!
Friday, March 9, 2007, 11:45 am
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM radio
Boccherini, Guitar Quintet #4 in D, "Fandango"


The matador's dance—
Snaps his fingers! Stomps his feet!
and the bull is tranced!
Friday, March 9, 2007, 3:50 pm
Barchas Room, Stanford Green Library
Jay Fliegelman: marginalia of Phyllis Wheatley


17-year old
black girl finds Shakespeare's Twelfth Night
misquoted in book.
Friday, March 9, 2007, 4:30 pm
Barchas Room, Stanford Green Library
Jay Fliegelman, "Collecting Early Americana"


Paradise Lost signed
by Jefferson, John Adams—
I touch both their names.
Friday, March 9, 2007, 9:00 pm
History Corner, Room 002, Stanford
Film on Gendun Choephel: "Angry Monk"


Some disturbed by film—
I like him— a Tibetan
Siddhartha! Bravo!
Saturday, March 10, 2007, 10:09 am
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM radio
Tchaikovsky, "Serenade for Strings in C", Op. 48


"Wrote this with my heart,"
he tells Madame von Meck—
my homage to Mozart."
Sunday, March 11, 2007, 9:00 pm
Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto
Lee Garmes, cinematographer, Morocco (1930)


Chiaroscuro— light
and shadows, white pearls, black dress,
Muslims cloaked in white.
Sunday, March 11, 2007, 11:00 pm
"The Love Parade" (1929)
Maurice Chevalier sings to Jeanette MacDonald:


The Prince is singing
"I will make my Queen happy
morning, noon, and night."
Monday, March 12, 2007, 12:50 pm
Milk Pail, Mountain View
A friend takes me shopping


Black grapes, green onions,
alfafa sprouts, tomatoes,
and three bananas.
Monday, March 12, 2007, 3:00 pm
Stanford Green Library
Postcard ad for Drama


Lone shoe on purple
Splendour by Abi Morgan—
Beautiful postcard!
Tuesday, March 13, 2007, 1:20 pm
Hoover Tower Fountain, Stanford


Beautiful clear day—,
No clouds in the pure blue sky.
My mind be like this.
Wednesday, March 13, 2007, 2:00 am
Stanford Green Library Exit


What a great surprise—
My good friend Jack came this late
to give me ride home!
Wednesday, March 14, 2007, 4:00 pm
Notice posted on my apartment door
Mtn View Annual Inspection Friday


Inspection time's here—
Throwing away newspapers
on Einstein's birthday.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007, 9:00 pm
Pigott Hall, Room 113, Stanford University
Jean Renoir, "The Whirlpool of Fate" (1925)


Delirious Dream—
He rescues her on white horse.
She's floating in clouds.
Thursday, March 15, 2007, 10:40 am
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM radio
Gluck, "Orfeo: Dance of the Blessed Spirits"


His songs charmed birds and
streams, almost got his wife back
from Land of the Dead.
Friday, March 16, 2007, 11:58 am
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM radio
Percy Grainger, "Irish Tune from County Derry"


Tranquil Irish Tune—
I'm under a giant oak tree
watching clouds go by.
Friday, March 16, 2007, 1:00 pm
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM radio
Haydn's Symphony #94, "Surprise"


If you fall asleep
during Haydn's symphony—
Drums will wake you up!
Friday, March 16, 2007, 9:30 pm
Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto
James Cagney in "White Heat" (1949)


The gangster's last cry:
"Made it, Ma! Top of the world!"—
Cagney at his best!
Friday, March 16, 2007, 11 pm
"The Body Snatcher" (1945): Gray (Boris Karloff)
asks Dr. 'Toddy' MacFarlane (Henry Daniell):


Where do thoughts arise?
How do we remember and
how do we forget?
Saturday, March 17, 2007, 10:50 am
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM radio
George Pinto's "Rondo on an Irish Air" (1801)


Ah! Saint Patrick's Day!
I'm dancing an Irish Jig—
Jumping like an elf!
Sunday, March 18, 2007, 12 pm
"Mercury News" front page story (3/18/07, 1A)
"A tale of sorrow and survival"


Can the mind harbor
love and hate at the same time?
The Bagby's did it!
Sunday, March 18, 2007, 3:00 pm
A family at Stanford's Clock Tower
looking at the pendulum mechanism


Clock Tower strikes three—
Pulley propellers spin as
Dad and daughter watch.
Sunday, March 18, 2007, 9:00 pm
Stanford Theatre, Frank Capra's poetic film:
"Bitter Tea of General Yen" (1933)


We don't die, just change—
He's now a cherry tree or
the wind in your hair.
Sunday, March 18, 2007, 10:40 pm
Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto
"Flying Down to Rio" (1933)


Fred and Ginger do
the Carioca— bumping
head to head dancing!
Monday, March 19, 2007, 11:20 am
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM radio
Haydn, Symphony #83 "La Poule"
(1785)

Lots of clucking sounds—
Hens pecking in the farm yard!
Free-ranging chickens!
Monday, March 19, 2007, 3:15 pm
Kids at Day Care, Cubberley Center
4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto


Girl twirls hula-hoop,
two giggling, running from
their supervisor.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007, 3:45 pm
March 20 issue: "Palo Alto Daily News"
Siblings win national haiku contest


Many words, one wish:
Salaam, shalom, an, paix, paz—
Peace around the world.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007, 11:52 am
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM radio
Vivaldi, "Four Seasons: Spring"


Springing out of bed
to Vivaldi's Four Seasons
Flowers all blooming!
Thursday, March 22, 2007, 2:53 pm
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM radio
Karl Maria von Weber, "Invitation to the Dance"


Music in Camille:
She's playing the piano—
the love of her life.
Thursday, March 22, 2007, 8:00 pm
Foothill Middlefield Computer Lab
Greg Reppen asks about my Rilke poem


Rilke's in-seeing:
Become one with the panther—
that's contemplation.
Friday, March 23, 2007, 1:25 pm
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM radio
Joaquín Rodrigo, "Fantasy for a Gentleman"
(1954)

Spring breeze in the air—
Strolling in the olive grove,
I see green, green, green.
Friday, March 23, 2007, 2:15 pm
Cal-Train Station, Palo Alto
Large ad on side of Bus #390


Billboard ad on bus—
"Love is fleeting. Knowledge lasts.
Get HIV Test."
Friday, March 23, 2007, 7:30 pm
Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto
Film Noir: "The Seventh Victim" (1943)


Donne's "Holy Sonnet"
"pleasures are like yesterday"
"death meets me as fast".
Friday, March 23, 2007, 9:00 pm
Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto
Film Noir: "Hollow Triumph" (1948)


It's Victor Laslo—
hero now playing gangster
and psychiatrist.
Friday, March 23, 2007, 7:30 pm
Reading Marlo Thomas, The Right Words at the Right Time , Chapter written by Paul McCartney


Paul is down and out—
His dead Mom comes in a dream,
tells him "Let It Be".
Friday, March 23, 2007, 10:30 pm
University Ave. & Bryant, Palo Alto
A couple with two Yorkshire terriers


Two baby Yorkies—
one and two years old cuties—
Peanut and Jojo.
Saturday, March 24, 2007, 10:30 am
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM radio
Johann Strauss, "Artist's Life Waltz" (1867)


Strauss waltz wakes me up—
Music playing for an hour,
still I'm fast asleep.
Saturday, March 24, 2007, 12:00 pm
Bookstore Fountain, Stanford University
Passing a boy learning to walk


He's just two— wobbles,
clings to three-year old sister
who can't hold him up.
Sunday, March 25, 2007, 7:30 pm
Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto
Maurice Chevalier in "One Hour with You" (1932)


Just one hour with you—
What would you do but love.
Oh love me tonight!
Sunday, March 25, 2007, 9:20 pm
"Dinner at Eight" (1933)— Closing lines
Kitty (Jean Harlow) & Carlotta (Marie Dressler):


Machinery will
replace every profession—
You need not worry.
Monday, March 26, 2007, 9:48 am
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM radio
180th Anniversary of Beethoven's death


Storm, thunder, and snow
when Beethoven died this day—
1827.
Monday, March 26, 2007, 10:22 am
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM radio
Georges Enesco, Romanian Rhapsody #1


Russian cossack spins
on stage like a tornado—
Audience goes wild!
Monday, March 26, 2007, 6:00 pm
Reading Katha Upanishad, VI.1 (1400 B.C.)
on the Tree of Eternity.


The Tree of Heaven—
Roots above, branches below,
nourishing the Earth.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007, 9:30 pm
New Scientist article (3-27-2007):
"Bizarre hexagon circles Saturn's north pole"


Snowflakes, beehives, and
now a hexagon circles
north pole of Saturn!
Wednesday, March 28, 2007, 10:10 am
Waking up to Hilary Hahn playing
Nicolo Paganini, Violin Concerto #1 in D


Walk in the garden—
Bees and more bees busily
gathering honey.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007, 11:11 am
KDFC 102.1 FM: Roy Eaton plays Mozart,
Variations on a Nursery Song, K. 265 (1782)


Stomping in the sand:
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
That's how stars are made!
Thursday, March 29, 2007, 10:08 am
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM radio
Robert Schumann, "Rhenish" Symphony #3 in Eb


Thunder on the Rhine—
The castles are all alit
Songs of Lorelei.
Thursday, March 29, 2007, 1:48 pm
Los Altos Library Parking Lot
Seeing a giant bowl-shaped cloud


Giant Bowl cloud in sky—
I raise my arms to receive
this blessing of grace.
Friday, March 30, 2007, 11:20 am
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM radio
Johann Strauss, Artist's Life Waltz (1867)


Three letters written
to students in Pinsky's class—
I feel like dancing!
Friday, March 30, 2007, 5:55 pm
University Avenue, Palo Alto
Sticker sign on back of Volvo


Sign on back of car—
"If only closed minds could have
closed mouths."— that's heaven!
Friday, March 30, 2007, 7:20 pm
Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto
Boris Karloff in "Bedlam" (1946)


Mad dark asylum,
Hogarth's Rake's Progress, but
Cockatoo is bright!
Friday, March 30, 2007, 9:05 pm
Ray Milland & Charles Laughton
star in "The Big Clock" (1948)


His boss assigned him
to find the killer who's none
other than himself!
Saturday, March 31, 2007, 10:36 am
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM radio
Haydn, Symphony #101 in D "Clock" (1794)


The clock is ticking—
Early morning and the birds
are chirping, singing!
Saturday, March 31, 2007, 10:45 am
Listening to KDFC 102.1 FM radio
Johann Strauss, Blue Danube Waltz (1867)


It's Brahms' favorite
and mine too— wonder whom I'll
be waltzing tonight?
Saturday, March 31, 2007, 4:50 pm
Tressider Union, Stanford University


Three newly planted
date palms like giant pineapples
perched on three tall thrones.
Saturday, March 31, 2007, 6:00 pm
Latham Street, Mountain View


Wispy clouds in sky.
On top of eucalyptus,
crow cries "caw caw caw!"



| Top of Page | Haikus 2007 | Monet Haikus | Nature Haikus | Haikus 2006 |
| Poems 2007 | Basho on Poetry | Poems Index | Poetry News | CPITS |
| Poetry & Power | Poetry Resources | Books | A-Z Portals | Home |


© Peter Y. Chou, Wisdom Portal
P.O. Box 390707, Mountain View, CA 94039
email: (3-1-2007)