All This and Six Haiku Too
11:42 AM - I just got back to my apartment. So much to do, so little time. I wish I could reverse that. (Can you name the movie line that inspired that thought?) I'm doing some test marking, some administrating, some housekeeping, and and and.
My ands have ands
My and ands have and and ands
You know what I mean?
What does normal mean?
Normal are those we don't know
Normal is our life
Do I amuse you?
I wonder of my muses
All the way home
12:10 PM - I found a light-bulb that has to get put in, I put a letter that has to get mailed into an envelope, I had one brief phone conversation, had an exchange on Facebook about saying something in the name of the one who said it (how can you prove that this brings redemption even if it's not Torah?), answered some emails, put slices of pizza in the oven and and and.
Last week I watched the first half of a movie about Harry Nilsson. It got right up to the point when the bottom fell out. I'm tempted but really don't want to watch the second half...
6:42 PM - Spent a few hours with a friend while his daughter took a course in the city. Got some walking in. Cleaned up for the cleaning person. Miles to go, so much to know, for me and you, endless work to do, while things are good is when we should strengthen our belief so in hard times we can feel relief, I don't know if this makes sense, but writing makes me less tense. as I quietly breath out, without a scream or shout...
I bought the complete works of Basho today. I'd settle to either translate like Jane Reichhold or write like Basho, either would do.
Here's some Basho translated by Reichhold:
autumn night
dashed to bits
in conversation
the sun covered
by clouds for a while
migrating birds
today indeed
people grow older
first wintry shower
This book, How Does a Poem Mean? was recommended to me yesterday. The woman at Barnes and Noble was excited just to hear the name of this book which meant so much to her. She recommended I go to Strand. Sigh? Yeah.
7:22 PM - Going to close up windows, including this one that are not work related. A test to write, lessons to prepare, and and and.
posted by rabbi neil fleischmann @ 11:41 AM
5 Comments:
I have no idea what movie inspired that line--whenever I don't know, I always guess, "The Godfather." About "How Does a Poem Mean"--I have been reading it again (did I tell you that?), and it's opened up new worlds for me!Poetry as a grown-up is so much cooler than poetry as a college kid. (Although I did hear Auden speak at Ole Miss one December day, 1965). Your haiku are delightful. Todah, RN.
From the RN at the end, I'm guessing this is PM. Yes? The question is alluding to a colorful classic kids' movie. Cool that you're appreciating the book. A wonderful man, who davens in my father(hslabw)'s shul, named Rabbi Yitzchak Holtz told me that it was a major inspiration/springboard for him in his life. Today he is a renowned professor, and expert in literature, focusing on S.Y. Agnon. He told me that he attended a presentation in which Hillel Halkin spoke about his translation of Yehuda HaLevi via focusing on one poem.
Yes, it is I, the PM! I didn't mean for my comment to be anonymous--I probably hit the wrong button, who knows? Is Rabbi Holtz in the US or here? Wish I were fluent in Hebrew--in the other hand, it's not like we're near any major or even minor cultural centers down here! In truth, BeerSheva has a spectacular new cultural arts venue--we haven't been there yet. So I am finding great satisfaction in reading almost anything--but I esp. love your blog and, because of it, poetry! Todah, RN!
Bevakashah PM. rabbi Holtz is here. but there's a great artist I know named Itzhak Holz in Yerushalayim.
Thanks for reading, sppreciating, commenting.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory - uttered by Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka.
I don't remember if that line was in the book ("Charlie and the Chocolate Factory") though I should, having read it a couple of dozen times.
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