A Poem from 'Athens'

Alas - I am a man of words! And, to qualify as a resident (dissident?) of Geocities' Athens, I am to be philosophical, atleast, and preferrably a teacher or poet. So, while I reflect on this, I offer this poem on Japan.

A note first! 'Classical Japanese Haiku' as defined by Harold G. Henderson in his 'Haiku in English' (Charles E. Tuttle Co., Tokyo: 1967)

1. consists of 17 Japanese syllables (5-7-5) [ital. mine]

2. contains at least some reference to nature (other than human nature)

3. refers to a particular event (i.e., it is not a generalization)

4. presents that event as happening now -- not in the past.

I do not claim to have written Haiku but a simile. Nor was it my intent to do more. I believe in using imperfection to create beauty - not that such an act is original with me but it seems to work - so there is deviation.

Technically I fail because I do not try to count in Japanese syllables but my native (Canadian) English. For more on this, see Henderson's book. However, I am more deliberate in my breaking of the 'ichiban' rule in that I stray from the 5-7-5 syllabic meter. Hence 'like haiku'. The poem was written in Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada, about four years ago, unpublished til now, for the sake of an amateur writing contest sponsored by a beer company(?).. Hey, it's Canadian, Eh! ..along with others, also ignored I assume because the content was blatantly politik and hence to be denied life by our circumspect censors. Politicians only like dead poets and preferrably from other countries, talking about unrelated events. You can quote me if you'd like.

Four like haikus to Japan

Wilderness
has many forms
alone one waits to return

[]

Wild ocean rolling pebbles
do you play with sand
or fight the sea shore?

[]

The peasant sailor
scans your torn shore line
he is as grim as the war

[]

Beautiful Japan set in the sea
God's ornament, thee,
receive him!

Copyrighted by Sid Matheson, 1997

The poem perhaps means more to me as it was written long before I moved with my family to Japan, but I hope you have enjoyed it.

May God bless and keep you in all of His myriad ways. Sayonara!

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