Scottish haiku
From Alan Spence’s Glasgow Zen, versions of haiku by Issa: wid ye lookit the state ae it – me in ma new jaicket! fling doon crumbs the sparras start fightin … Continue reading
Pellicanz
By Thibaut de Navarre (also Thibaut de Champagne):  Dex est ensi conme li pellicanz Qui fet son nif el plus haut arbre sus, Et li mauvés oisiaus, qui vient … Continue reading
Tranströmer, musically
Tomas Tranströmer: Allegro After a black day, I play Haydn, and feel a little warmth in my hands. The keys are ready. Kind hammers fall. The sound is spirited, green, … Continue reading
A poem by Shi Wu (“Stone House”)
Becoming a buddha is easy But ending illusions is hard So many frosted moonlit nights I’ve sat and felt The cold before dawn.
Thalassa
This is one of my favourite poems by MacNeice. Put out to sea, my broken comrades Let the old seaweek crack, the surge Burgeon, oblivious of the last Embarkation of … Continue reading
Ithaca
I heard this tonight, on the radio, for the first time ever. It’s wonderful. Ithaca When you set out on your journey to Ithaca, pray that the road is long, … Continue reading
