Tuesday, July 12, 2016

A Minute Meditation


"keep in mind the tailorbird
 at home on a single branch"

Han Shan (Cold Mountain)
from The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain
Red Pine, translator and editor

6 comments:

  1. a nice comment on the ultimate aloneness common to all; on the other hand:

    a pair of pigeons
    in a mist of spring rain
    shoulder to shoulder

    Anton Gerits

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mudpuddle,

    Interesting comment and thanks for the haiku.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mudpuddle, is the image one of "aloneness" or is it a reminder to seek one's natural purpose in life (i.e., reason for being)? I guess the image offers a wide range of "interpretations." Fred, what is your POV?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. R.T.,

      My POV differs because I see the two lines in the context of the complete poem.

      The tailorbird is HOME on a single branch. Should it need more?

      Delete
  4. It is interesting just how much 11 words can actually say.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brian Joseph,

      That's probably the source of pleasure so many, including me, get from reading haiku.

      Delete