Chunks of pages. Tattered spine, torn and broken. Masking tape repairs in various stages of disintegration. I bought the anthology “Modern Japanese Haiku” by Makoto Ueda, at the Queens University bookstore in 1977. We’ve lived together ever since.
I close the gate,
and sit alone with the stones
this beautiful night.
by Mizuhara Shuoshi
Close to the heart Chris –
I like the scene… the old book that’s been with you so long… and been repaired a few times. I have some like that… old friends. And thank you for sharing the beautiful poem….
Thanks Shimon! I would be curious what some of your “old friends” might be.
Cheers, Chris
Unfortunately, my old friends are in another language, and belong to another culture, not well known in the west…
What an utterly lovely poem.. Books like that are what make up the fabric of our lives.. beautiful!
Thanks for stopping by… and commenting. I know this book has certainly shaped my thinking and writing. I’m looking forward to reading more of your writing.
Chris