Words, Realities and Haiku

"...Basho [Haiku poet] was a past master in not 'putting words between the truth and ourselves'." Harold E. Henderson

For a person with a deep inner world, words--man made symbols--perhaps words are stairs from which to climb out of the deep vast inner chambers in the mind in which to find and meet others. Words aren't the point; they are the vehicle from which to move out of the caverns, connect with others and find a truth in life outside yourself.

But for those with wide outer worlds, perhaps these same symbols are anchors that hold them close enough to earth so they don't float away or fly too high. For these people, words are evidence that they share something with humanity, that they belong to something, someone.

Many philosophical friends of mine believe true reality and communication is beyond language...is it? I've yet, as an adult, to find a stable reality that needs no language. As for the language of Love...perhaps we created language in the first place (after Rock, Fire, Water, of course!) to negotiate our way into a more stable Love.

Hummm. We've done a crappy job though, haven't we?

But I digress...back to Basho, 17 century Japanese Haikai/Haiku poet, often considered the "father" of the Haiku....close your eyes, take a deep breath, clear your mind...and read with your senses wide open....

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Bush clover in blossom waves
Without spilling
A drop of dew

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The Rose of Sharon
By the roadside,
Was eaten by the horse

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Shake, oh grave!
The autumn wind
Is the voice of my wailing

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From Haiku poet, Issa...

O snail,
climb Mt. Fuji,
but slowly, slowly!

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The feeble plant
at last
has a wobbly flower.

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And a lovely one by Buson...

A butterfly,
asleep, perched upon
the temple bell

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For a top ten list of Japanese Haiku poets (can be read in Japanese, French or English): http://www.big.or.jp/~loupe/links/ehisto/eavant.shtml

"If you cannot understand my silence, you cannot understand my words."