Spring
June 19, 2008
Spent time in Heaven
Looked just like life on Earth
Without suffering.
Today I went to Heaven. It was a momentary escape, a minute of transcendent enlightenment. As soon as I realized what was happening the ant crawling up my arm brought me back to what we call reality. I was sitting atop a small hill on the 9th green of Alpine Hills golf course when I made my visit. I was waiting for my boys and their friends to come up to the green. Everything seemed the same. There were birds , blue sky, sunshine, and, I guess, a 9th hole in Heaven. My father sat next to me on the hill and I felt the presence of other loved ones that have died. I was only there for a moment, but I felt such incredible peace. I plan to go back again someday, hopefully tomorrow.
June 18, 2008
Grandson at second,
Whirring around the infield
Dragonfly father.
My father visits my sister in the form of dragonflies. We buy her dragonfly statues, calendars and anything else dragonflyish. It is a great comfort to my sister that she is reminded of him so often. Today he zipped by me and flew out on the field where Scotty was playing. I could tell it was him because he was dressed in black and white ( he’s a Sox fan).
June 17, 2008
Wisdom of the farm,
Work hard, think deep, be honest,
Common ~ sense and good.
I have gained a new respect of the value of farming. It brings so much more than the stuff on our plate, in our glass, or in our car. The farmers I have met have exude a down to earth attitude and presence that comes from being connected to the land and animals upon it. Even though I grow a few things in my backyard, I am not a farmer. After having met a wide range of people connected to agriculture, I would like to be more like the ones I have had the honor of meeting.
June 16, 2008
Postdiluvian
Midwest monsoon massacre,
Rivers running wild.
We spent the last two days sandbagging a friend’s house on the river. The best Father’s Day gift was seeing my two boys volunteering without complaint. When I informed them about the emergency, they were in the car in five minutes ready to go.
The river is spilling its banks and consuming piers, porches, and anything else in its path. The Rock won’t crest to Wednesday. Hopefully the sandbags will hold. Pray for the end of rain.
June 15, 2008 ~ Sacred Sunday
He called God, “Abba”
Not “Sir”, “Mister”, or “Father”,
Happy Daddy’s Day.
The term “Abba” in Aramaic has been incorrectly translated for years. It does not mean “father”, but rather it means “daddy”. It is difficult for the church hierarchy to use such a loving, playful, intimate term for God. The stern image of a father who is strict and distant appeals more to the Magesterium. Jesus’ image of God as Abba was a threat to the dominant male personality. God as “daddy” is liberating. This image of God invites both prayer and play.
June 14, 2008 ~ Sports Saturday
Under the Red Pines
Without coaches or parents,
A crushed cup and kids.
At the Roy Gayle baseball complex there are eight fields. At each one you will find kids of all ages playing in their respective leagues. You will hear the sounds of people cheering, coaches screaming, kids celebrating and even crying. The games can be intense; the adults both supportive as well as inappropriate. Far from the fine trimmed lawns of the infield diamonds there exists a ninth field that goes unnoticed by most of the adults. Under a group of Red Pines kids gather every day and night to play cup ball. There are few rules, and everyone plays, regardless of age. Without umpires, coaches or parents, the kids play their game with abandonment and a crushed pop cup. Four trees make up the bases and they hit with their hand and play without gloves. The games go on without notice. Starting pitchers and third string right fielders play together. Players from the Mustang and Pony leagues play together. It is this game which serves as the heart of baseball at Roy Gayle.
June 13, 2008
Paddles glint silver
Kayaks on the Great Muddy
Sunshine between storms.
Marilaurice Hemlock
Marilaurice was one of the spiritual guides of the Newman community at ISU. She was the minister of music and her voice penetrated our hearts. She has always been a woman of Gospel presence. Her faith and life has inspired so many, especially me.
June 12, 2008
We marched against nukes
700,000 strong,
Time to dust off shoes.
I was part of the organizing committee of the largest peace protest in U.S. history. What I remember most was how nobody got along on the committee. Everybody was advocating for their own issue so strongly that it seemed like a fight was going to break out. The tension in the room was overwhelming. I exited the committee, but reappeared on the day of the march. A small contingent of us, many from the Newman community at ISU, walked down 42nd street together singing songs of peace and hope as we walked right into Central Park. Twenty-six years has passed so quickly. What an honor to have participated in this moment in history. It was an event in which the people expressed their outrage at the insanity of the Arms Race. A time when people from all over the spectrum of social concern joined together against the common enemy of mass destruction. It was a good day for a walk in NYC.
June 11, 2008
No-see-ums see me
Mosquitoes can sense my breath,
Culicoides suck.
Summer arrives when school ends and the itching begins.
June 10, 2008
A teacher’s reward
Former student says “thank you”,
For changing his life.
Kate say educators need to teach everything. So often our lessons are life lessons. So many of our students lack parental guidance. There is a need to teach about the world as well as about how to live in it. Some students seem so jaded and hardened that there is little hope to reach them. Then, when you least expect it, some kid makes the leap to maturity and adulthood before your very eyes. These experiences are far and few between, but one of them is enough to sustain you for years to come.
June 9, 2008
Visiting grandma
Our Sunday obligation,
We play Rummikub.
My mom’s great joy is to play Rummikub with her kids and grandkids. Before Dad died, they played everyday. It really gets fun when we accuse her of cheating. Sometimes when one of her grandchildren takes her move she pretends to shoot them with her hand. It really gets wild when she performs the Black Crow Curse over the board. I think she comes from a long line of Irish shamans. The game is just an excuse to get the kids around the table with the grand matriarch. The longer we play the more family stories she tells. If we are really lucky we will be present when she utters a malapropism. It is always worth the drive.
June 8, 2008
Summer pilgrimage
The Earth tilts closer to sun,
I lean deeper in.
I have so much work to do this summer. I plan to renovate, build, refurbish, overhaul, redo, spruce up, and that’s just me.
June 7, 2008 – Sports Saturday
Kid gets his first hit
A smile as wide as right field,
His moms feel so proud.
God bless baseball.
June 6, 2008 ~ Guest Haiku
Traveling grasses
Reminds us of loved ones gone
Warms our hearts and minds
Julie Biehl
Julie and her family are family. She is deeply committed to justice and her presence brings me joy. She recently received some of MaryAnn’s traveling grass from Kate. The grass originally came from my mother-in-law’s home garden in Addison, Il. When the homestead was sold, Kate’s sister took some of the grass and planted it in Colorado. While visiting Colorado, Kate took some back to Rockford. The traveling grass is actually zebra grass. Like the memory of MaryAnn, it lives on in the gardens of many of the people fortunate enough to be connected to the Rehaks.
June 5, 2008
Obama clinches
Change has definitely come
Shirley says , “Amen”.
Shirley Chisholm was a great American. Where I come from we laughed at her candidacy. But, that’s because I lived in a bastion of white racism ( Oak Lawn, Il) . Shirely would have made a great president because she was a great human being. She definitely would have been better than Nixon. She was considered a joke because of her race and gender. Well, change has come, and now Obama stands at the threshold of the presidency. Perhaps we are not the country I grew up in. Our planet is in peril. Our culture is in decline. Our vision is blurred. Hopefully, Mr. Obama believes in what he says. It is so hopeful to think that the children of former slaves and slave owners can get together and elect a person of mixed race to the highest position of power in all lands. It is a dream come true.
June 4, 2008
Kids out of control
Pre-teens tell me to “Get #%*@!”
What’s wrong with their world?
For many of my students there is no reason to respect adults because adults have done nothing but abuse them. In their lives adults are legal bullies who offer little comfort but lots of criticism. I strive to provide an alternative version of adulthood, but, at times, I fail. It is very difficult to discipline with kindness in your heart when young people are so brutally rude. At my school we attempt to use Love and Logic. Today my approach was more like Loud and Louder. Yelling does not work. I need a new way to teach to reach through the wall that divides us.
June 3, 2008
One week left of school
Peonies still haven’t bloomed,
Ants behind schedule.
Peonies have taught me a lot. Years ago I didn’t know they were pollinated by ants. I thought the ants were destroying them. I defended them by wiping out the hill. Curiously, there were no blooms that year.
I had a psychotic neighbor when we lived on Mirian Ave. He mowed down a whole bunch of peonies one summer because he was mad at me. What he didn’t know was that they were in his yard, and that they are perennials. They came back the next year, but by that time he was long gone.
We noticed a few years back that the peonies on the side of our house bloom when there is one week left of school. This year our school year has been extended a week because of all the snow days we had. So, what I want to know is how did the peonies, or ants, know that we had all those days off? I expect the first blooms either tomorrow or Wednesday. When they finally pop, there will be utter joy in teacherville. The school schedule is a gift.
June 2, 2008
Lawn of the Month sign
Will never adorn my yard,
Weeds get no respect.
A lawn care van pulled up and the guy handed me a detailed list of all the weeds that were growing in my front yard. I was amazed by his knowledge of botany. He proceeded to describe how he could eliminate them and improve the quality of my lawn. I interrupted him and asked him what color these various members of the plantae kingdom were. He looked a bit puzzled and responded, “green.” I handed him back his list and told him that that was good enough for me.
June 1, 2008 – Sacred Sunday
Ordain all women
In the name of Mother God
Proclaim the Gospel!
The Vatican’s recent proclamation that any bishop who ordains women or any woman who is ordained are to be excommunicated proves the old adage that the last refuge of an antiquated misogynist male dominated hierarchy is the threat of eternal damnation. The real problem with the ordination of women is not the women, but the priesthood itself.
The type of ministry that Jesus modeled in his life is not reflected in the cultic priesthood of the Roman Catholic church. As an institution, the priesthood today is more reminiscent of the elitist and hypocritical Pharisees found in the gospel stories. Women priests are needed to save the soul of Roman Catholicism. Excommunication is an attempt to keep the Holy Spirit from continuing to change the church to make it more reflective of the Reign of God. It is an act of spiritual warfare. For those of us who believe that gender equality is a gospel imperative, it may be a necessary consequence of our willingness to fight for the future of our church.
May 31, 2008 -Sports Saturday
Appoggiatura
Ursprache and prospicience
Succedaneum.
If you don’t consider the National Spelling Bee a sporting event, then I have just one word for you ~ numbnuts!
May 30, 2008 ~ Guest Haiku
Family parties
Always my foot in my mouth,
Growing up is hard.
Hope Rehak
Hope is my wonderful niece. Even though she may think she puts her foot in her mouth, I think she is extremely articulate and intelligent. Although growing up is difficult, she has mastered the skill.
May 29, 2008
A walk in the woods
With deciduous students,
Come back new each year.
Six days left of school. Today we took our spring walk through the arboretum. We’ve taken the same walk each season for the last four years. Its a pedagogical tradition in my geography class. The trees keep getting taller, but the kids remain about the same size.
May 28, 2008
Women of Basra
Preyed upon by militias,
Guilty of red lips.
For the women of Iraq, the men in their lives may have changed, but the oppression they experience remains the same. Saddam was a vicious dictator, the militias are zealot misogynous cowards, their husbands are too often polygamous abusers. The U.S. intervention in their lives has yet to make things significantly better. What they want is security and freedom; not necessarily to vote for governmental officials, but to wear the clothes they want to wear, to educate themselves, to sing and play music. A little make-up, an exposed head, the joy of walking down the street without fear ~ not too much to ask for!
Women are beaten and killed by their husbands, brothers, and other men for violating extremist Islamic law. Are we fighting to secure the right for men to abuse women? Is the mission we are attempting to accomplish one that secures the right for men to oppress women? Perhaps the women of Basra should be consulted by the U.S. military. They may have some alternative ideas about where the terrorists are hiding.
To hear more about the women of Basra go to:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90840993
May 27, 2008
Just one left from I
Survived flu and mustard gas,
Frank Woodruff Buckles.
May 26, 2008
Remembering them
Names written on black granite,
Marble, paper, hearts.
May 25, 2008
Manna from Heaven
Food shared by people on earth,
Both miraculous.
Kim Chi Ha, Korean poet and political activist, wrote the following poem,
Food is heaven
As we eat
God enters us
Food is heaven
Oh, food
Should be eaten and shared by all.
Eating is the ultimate sacrament. By eating we pay homage to life, as well as to its Creator. As a species, the reality that some of us do not participate in this daily ritual is a sign that our understanding of God and religion is undernourished. Perhaps evangelization should not focus on bringing salvation, but, instead, breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
May 24, 2008 ~ Sports Saturday
6 to 6 in 6th
Apocalyptic scoreboard,
Homerun rocks Rapture.
Everybody in the stands was staring at the scoreboard. There was an uncomfortable silence in the crowd. My son, the 3rd baseman, blurted out to his teammates, ” Let’s play like beasts.” The opposing coach said he thought it was an ominous sign. A parent inquired from the bleachers, ” What does it mean?” I responded, “That we are tied and we’re in the 6th .”
I scanned the outfield for Satan but he was nowhere to be found, but I did see Michael on deck. I had a hunch that he would put an end to the theological debate. The 2-0 pitch sailed high among the Seraphim and Cherubim and cleared the Pearly Gates. All of a sudden the prospect of the end times seemed less pressing than the conclusion of the game. Joey got back up on the mound in the bottom of the 7th and, serving as the savior, delivered a trinity of outs. Amen!
May 23, 2008
Middle school passage
Journey to young adulthood,
Prayer in public school.
With eight days left in the school year and two bullets found in lockers, I’m beginning to worry about the welfare of my students over the summer months. We are a haven, a safe place that feeds and educates. For many of the children their homes are turbulence and dysfunction. I give them all I can and offer my prayers for them. I call upon all the goodness in the universe to protect them and help them make good decisions.
May 22, 2008
Four bucks a gallon
Maybe I should buy a horse,
Or a pogo stick.
Exxon and all their cronies should be run out of town. Record profits at a time when the average American is struggling to fill the tank is shameful. We should expect it from the Saudis and other oil producing nations, but not from our own. Perhaps their patriotism should be brought into question. It is un-American to screw your fellow American. What about a national oil company?
May 21, 2008
Yelling at my son
Because he disobeyed me,
Just like I used to.
My sons are so much better than I ever was. Of course, I don’t plan on letting them know any time soon.
May 20, 2008
Sorrowful Sichuan
Mothers mourn in Mandarin,
Whole world understands.
May 19, 1951
Fifty-four as one
Three years since death did them part,
Eternal lovers.
May 18, 2008 ~ Sacred Sunday
Complete emptiness
Letting go of everything,
Full of nothingness.
Excuse my Zen pretension. The above three lines that I sent out as my daily haiku do not meet industry standards. Sometimes you just miss the mark. So, as a replacement haiku, I offer these three lines,
Ordinary Time
No birth, no resurrection,
Weekly grind of God.
Most Roman Catholics live week to week. Each Sunday we hear another episode of Jesus in the Gospel peppered with a little Paul and some Hebrew Scripture . There is a certain routine that comes in ordinary time. No presents to buy, or eggs to hide. Week after week we hear or read the old story. The lack of festivities or special events creates a welcome normalcy. Of course, the calm is disturbed each week by the requirements of living the gospel.
May 17, 2008
He sat on the bench
The last game of the season,
Coach gave him a rest.
From the Lenten worry that he wouldn’t make the team to the amazement of his becoming the starting catcher, the season flew by. Their team went 15-3 and his batting average was in the 300’s. Sometimes baseball dreams come true.
May 16. 2008
Time to get married,
Before a new proposal,
in California.
I refuse to accept that the relationship I have with my wife is any more legitimate than the love shared by two people who happen to be the same gender. Considering that heterosexual marriage has an approximate 50% failure rate, allowing lesbians and gays the opportunity to tie the knot might provide a positive influence. Long term marital commitment is socially beneficial. It is good for the quality of family life. Of course, it is not just an issue of how long you stay together, but also, how you stay together. What doesn’t matter is who you stay with.
May 15, 2008
I went the zoo,
Brought some animals with me,
We saw our cousins.
One of the great joys of being a teacher is taking your students on a field trip. First of all, you reduce your workload for the day. Instead of 5 or 6 classes full of 30 kids or more you are responsible for about 10 of them. Secondly, it’s an easy lesson plan. You say things like, “let’s go look at the pachyderms,” and all your students think you’re a zoologist. Learning outside of school is such a wonderful experience. Too often students associate learning with a building, a dress code, a 9-4 timeframe, a requirement.
Today, I didn’t even have 10 bodies to corral. I spent my day with Spencer. He is one of my favorite students. Spence has been diagnosed with autism. Specifically, he is what some call an Aspergian. He struggles a lot with the day to day requirements of school, but he is a spatial genius. He also loves trains.
Within a few minutes he had figured out where everything at the zoo was. So, we walked around and said hello to all the other creatures. Spence was especially impressed with the various textures of the pathways we took. He was impressed with the various cul-de-sacs , culverts, and bridges we came upon. Even though I teach world geography, he is world geography.
Today was one of the most meaningful days of my teaching career. My time with Spence was a complete joy. I entered his world, and learned to appreciate him. I was able to see through his eyes. As for the rest of the animals, they had a great time and bought a lot of stuff at the souvenir shops.
May 14, 2008
Death of innocents
Nature, cruel as usual,
An unfit mother.
Earthquakes in China, cyclone in Burma, tornadoes in Oklahoma. A new metaphor/analogy is needed, no mother could be so cruel.
May 13, 2008 – The day Joy was born
A voice that sings true
Heart and mind always open
Soul full of passion.
I have had the good fortune of spending over half my life with Kate Rehak. I have witnessed her goodness and grace. She has revealed to me a deeper experience of life and love. Her humanity is a wonder to behold. Her presence brings comfort and calm.
Her life has been committed to the education of children. She has made them feel safe, and taught them to discover their intelligence. Her commitment to teaching, passion for what she teaches, and her absolute love of her students motivates and guides her.
I honor her today on her 50th. She has both delighted and delivered me. She is my constant source of inspiration. She is the love of my life, my hero, my friend.
May 12, 2008
Infidelity
The discipline of deceit,
Life as a shadow.
All we really have is our integrity. What we do trumps what we say every time. There is something worse than being betrayed ~ betraying someone who loves you.
May 11, 2008 ~ Sacred Sunday
Pope John Paul I said,
God is more woman than man,
Happy Mother’s Day.
Actually, he said “God is Father, and even more, He is Mother.” A little confusing in terms of the pronouns, but the imagery is undeniably liberating. How close was this pontiff to recognizing the full dignity of women and proclaiming them equal in every way? We will never know. His tenure was cut short and he was replaced by someone who took the topic off the table ~ or altar. In honor of all mothers, ordain women or stop baptizing them (someone else’s line). Celebrate the Motherhood of God and the priestesshood of Her daughters!
May 10, 2008 – Sports Saturday – Guest
Gold jerseys, white shoes
Sweat glistens, ball thumps on floor
Perfect post-season.*
Guigit Gundred
Yesterday and today have featured guest haikuists from my time spent as a member of the Newman Community. We were a college based radical Catholic community. One of the most delightful people there was Guigit. She was just a kid, but she embodied what we used to refer to as the “Reign of God”. She was an absolute joy. She grew into an equally amazing and delightful adult and now has kids of her own. She is an artist, just like her mom was. The only thing I find difficult to accept is that she has grown into a Lakers’ fan. Go Hornets!
* So often, life betrays poetry. Since the time Guigit’s haiku was posted, it has been treated by the Utah Jazz. The syllables are correct, but the score doesn’t lie ~ 104 – 99.
May 9, 2008 – Guest Haiku
Tools packed, sun sets low
Work day ending, body aches
Cold beer refreshes.
Mike Matejka
Mike is one of my heroes. I’ve admired him since college. He took me on my first political protest. I asked him what I was supposed to do. He told me, ” You buy the doughnuts.” Every time I see him, I come away more aware.
Michael is a man of many gifts. He is a writer, speaker, organizer, labor historian, and politician. I am sure I missed something. He is one of those rare individuals who is motivated by the common good. He has come to the aid of so many people and causes in his life. His presence is reassuring. He is a source of knowledge and wisdom. I am so very fortunate to know this man. This beer is for him!
May 8, 2008
Myanmar’s misery
Cyclone and the generals,
Heart full of Burma.
The good people of Burma have had to endure political oppression and natural disaster. Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy have inspired the world. The military junta is composed of shameful men who are nothing more than thieves and cowards. Recent protests have bolstered the pro-democratic movement but, one swift storm has brought unimaginable suffering and death. The unwillingness of the military dictatorship to accept help is just one more example of its callousness and corruption. Keep Burma in your heart.
May 7, 2008
Vladimir Putin
President, P.M., and Czar,
Ghosts in the Gulag.
I wrote this back in February when I heard about Putin’s scheme to become the next Prime Minister (P.M.) of Russia, since he could no longer be president due to the constitutional restriction on third terms. I checked through my past haikus and I could not find it, so I assume it was one I threw in a drawer. Medvedev takes over today as president and Putin becomes P.M. Putin may be stepping down, but he is actually powering up. His back room politicking has redefined the role of P.M. to be more powerful than president. Putin has become a new age Czar. He has restored Russia’s image in the world, improved the economy and despite undermining democracy in the process, has high ratings among the masses.
May 6, 2008
Exonerated
After 27 years,
Time’s what you make it.
James Lee Woodward spent over half his life in prison as an innocent man. His recent release was due to the work of Dallas District Attorney Craig Watkins. Over 17 men, mostly African-American, have been recently set free due to using DNA evidence. The prosecutors who put these innocent men behind bars ignored evidence and abused their authority. Now that there is space available in jail, perhaps it is they who should occupy it. As for Mr. Woodward, he looks ahead. After decades of unjust imprisonment, his comment to the press was, ” Time is what you make of it.” Sounds as if he made the best out of a horrendous situation.
May 5, 2008
Joe Hodo’s birthday,
Hardest working man alive,
A tireless father.
I used to jokingly say that my brother-in-law Joe was the son my father always wanted. It was true. He met my sister in high school and twenty some years and three kids later he is still working hard for his family. He is without pretension. Joe is salt of the earth, kind, generous and competent. I’m lucky to know him. (His birthday is actually the 4th)
May 4, 2008 – Sacred Sunday
A First Communion
Eating the Body of Christ,
And chocolate cake.
The sacred and profane on the same fare. So often our encounter with the “holy” is combined with some form of food. Perhaps it is a way of providing us a little strength, or diversion, to get through it. Christmas dinner, Passover feast, Easter eggs, etc. When it comes to the God experience, something is always on the table, or, as in the case of fasting, not on the table. Whether we indulge or deny, food plays a role in many faith traditions’ efforts to impress the ultimate dinner guest ~ God.
Eating is such a basic experience, it makes sense to use it as a means to communicate with the Grand Cook of all Creation. It is also such a mammalian thing to do. The Eucharist, instead of being seen as the spiritual equivalent of cannibalism, should be seen in the intimacy of a mother feeding her child.
Eating is one the most basic human experiences of life. It is right up there with breathing and reproducing. But, as a means of encountering the sacred, it is secondary to a related experience ~ feeding. Ultimately, who we invite to dine at our table, or at any table, may be in the end the most significant determinant of our ability to encounter the Real Presence.
May 3, 2008- Sports Saturday
6 innings a day
150 - kids on my team,
Coaching 7th grade.
A good coach is a teacher. A good teacher is a coach. These two roles can enrich each other if handled right. On the other hand, a bad coach makes a kid not want to play, and a bad teacher can make a student not want to learn. How would Jesus or the Buddha coach? How would Lombardi or Stengel teach?
It would benefit every teacher to volunteer as a coach, whether for baseball, chess, elephant polo, or camel racing. Teaching players to learn to compete and have fun is extremely transferable to the classroom. Coaching students to develop skills , to work as a team, and seek to achieve success is equally transferable to life.
May 2, 2008
Disney’s poster child
Vanity Fair’s pin-up,
Both exploitation!
I like the art work of Annie Leibovitz. She has taken some amazing photographs. In terms of Miley Cyrus she should have resisted the temptation to click. The naked body, or partially naked body is a beautiful sight to behold, but the partially naked body of a young girl should not be splattered on the pages of a major magazine or internet. Disney has used this girl to make millions, and now Vanity Fair has done the same. Let her have her personhood, her real name, a real life back.
May 1, 2008
Workers of the world
Unite around the maypole
Crown Virgin Mary!
May Day is way too crowded. There are all those workers singing the Internationale and demanding better pay, and the overthrow of the capitalist system. Then there are those spring frolickers dancing around the phallic symbol in celebration of love, or as a fourth grade social studies activity. And, last but not last, there are the Catholics crowning the mother of Jesus with flowers. All this activity should, at least, be spread out over a long weekend.
The ancient pagan celebrations that have accompanied the coming of May for centuries have been by-passed by our modern culture. Spring planting festivities have been replaced by spring sales. The workers of the world won’t unite because they are too busy working a second job to pay for gas and their mortgages. May 1st serves as a pit stop between the solstice and the equinox. It has many great traditions associated with it, and now one weird haiku.
April 30, 2008
Rev. Wright is wrong
Black church not under attack,
Obama besieged!
Now that Obama has made it clear that he is not Rev. Wright’s disciple, the media should focus on more substantive issues, like the war, economy, education, environment, etc. Rev. Wright needs to move on and get out of the limelight. He may be a good man with a strong message, but going from prophetic to pathetic is a journey that takes just a few words to accomplish.
April 29, 2008
Wintry reminder
The Ice Age is not over,
Jack the killer frost!
Tonight when we sleep, the cold arctic chill will creep down from Canada and wipe out our tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and other early spring beauties. The Green Reaper shows no mercy.
April 28, 2008
I saw my brother
Talked about the good old days,
Life full of regrets.
It’s good to stay in touch with family and those who knew us when. The past is like a weight that can weigh us down, or a rudder that can lead us in a new direction.
April 27,2008
An ancient species
Deushomosapien
Created by love.
In John 14 it reads, “I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you.” The depiction of this mystic intimacy is hard for some to comprehend, including me. The weaving of our very being with the Very Being is nothing new . Gods have mixed their GodNA with humans time and time again in mythology.
But these words of John are more than just a description of what happens after a date with Zeus. The notion that what we call God is within us, and vice a versa, is a profound statement of our human identity. The idea that we are one with the One provides a rationale for our radical equality. All of humanity, female, male, poor, rich, gay, straight, old, young, 3rd and 1st world, unborn, born ~ all of us possess and are possessed by the divine.
April 26, 2008 ~ Sports Saturday
Catholic volleyball
St. James versus St. Bridget,
Serving is the game.
Catholic league sports competition can be brutal. Sometimes I expect a parent to stand up and yell, “Crucify them, crucify them.” Of all the sports, volleyball is the most civil. What is best is that the teams are coed. My son’s coach teaches skills, models good behavior, plays everyone, and makes it fun. I’m just really glad that that the Church’s doctrine doesn’t deny girls from serving the ball ( like they deny them serving as priests). A few of them have great overhand smashes and it would be a shame not to use their God given gifts.
April 25, 2008
First black president
No more war, bring our troops home,
The U.S. at peace.
Scott Rehak Suma
Scott’s English assignment was to write a “What if” poem. I asked him to find out from his teacher if he could submit a haiku. She agreed. I told him he could be the Guest Haikuist if he got the poem to me by Thursday night.
Tonight is Thursday. I came home and found him at the table doing his homework. On his computer screen was the poem. He is a young man of few words, but the ones he speaks and writes have a depth to them. Its brings me comfort to discover that he thinks war is wrong and that someone other than a white male could be the president. So, if you want to learn more about your kids, have them write some haikus.
April 24, 2008
Despite recession
Rising cost of gasoline,
Yellow jonquils bloom.
The cliché that we need to stop and smell the roses is really deep wisdom. Someone should create a garden channel that shows flowers blooming 24-7 . Can you imagine it? All around the world, people would be running back from the bathroom to see the lilacs in the dooryard bloom. “Quick kids, the trillium are about to open” could be heard in living rooms throughout America. We need to look beyond the veneer of the CNN headlines and grasp what is real and lasting. Long after kingdoms have come and gone, high tide rolls in, birds migrate, butterflies emerge, seasons change, and the moon rises over oceans.
April 23, 2008
Carter criticized
Meeting with the enemy,
Biblical buffoon.
Jimmy Carter is a person of deep conviction, personal courage, and political wisdom. His big problem is that he lives his faith. He actually believes in the redemptive capacity of human nature. He considers peace in the Mid-East a real possibility. He is smart enough to know that it will never happen without consulting with all the significant parties. Hamas, Fatah, Likud, Labour, and all the other groups immersed in the hatred and irreconcilable differences need to communicate if real peace and security is to occur. Jimmy Carter, former president, and fool for Christ, preaches the biblical idea of hope. He presents reconciliation as both a biblical imperative and a political necessity. He is a prophetic figure. It is no wonder the Bush administration dismiss him. They know not of what he speaks.
April 22, 2008 ~ Earth Day
Celestial cell
Holy of Holies homeland
Sacred speck spinning.
The question as to whether or not there is life on other planets is a ruse. It is a diversionary tactic we use to throw us off the overwhelmingly overwhelming reality that there is life on this planet. We are just one of the multitude of species that dwell upon the turtle’s back, a little bigger and more egotistical than the mitochondria with whom we cohabitate this place. To be aware is to be in awe. Satellites have brought us a new perspective; one planet, one place, one chance to sustain our existence.
April 21, 2008
Return of the worms
And red, red, bobbin robins,
Terror in the skies!
Do worms see it coming?
April 20, 2008 ~ Sacred Sunday
A new Exodus,
From religion that divides
And God who conquers.
I refuse to believe in a God who would slaughter innocent children, or one who takes sides in war, or sends people to hell for their beliefs, or deems men more equal than women, or condemns someone for their sexual orientation, or who increases personal wealth while millions live in poverty, or who sanctions suicide bombings, or one who views the earth as something less holy than heaven.
April 19, 2008
First game of the year
Months of anticipation,
Precipitation!
Having played football as a kid, I have no problem playing in the rain. I say we wrap the gloves in plastic, grab some wooden bats, put on water shoes and take the field.
April 18, 2008
Little Italy,
Bryant Park with quiet trees,
The soul of New York.
Carol is an artist and a writer. She is also a wonderful niece. She has had the amazing good fortune of traveling the world. She has an understanding of the big picture as well as an appreciation of life’s details. Carol is as unique as her art. She lived in New York and found its soul.
April 17, 2008
Diamonds turning green
The leather slowly softens
Cold sand and hard ground.
There is so much more to baseball than the score of the game. There is a beauty to the place and the movement, and the tools of the game. Professional baseball distorts the splendor of the game. Baseball is America’s game in the thousand sandlots and diamonds where kids play out of love for the game. The Zen of baseball is staying in the game, in the inning, in the moment. Playing in the big league with a million dollar contract is maya ~ illusion. Less than few will get there, but tens of thousands have already arrived. Batter up and be here now.
April 16, 2008
Recall their courage
Heroes midst malevolence,
Hokies in Heaven.
The violence of a sick coward with a gun will fade from our collective memory. What will remain is the memory of heroes. Ryan “Stack” Clark, and Prof. Liviu Librescu, and those like them, sacrificed their lives in order to save others. The tragedy that happened a year ago reminds us of both what is worst and best about us.
April 15, 2008
Gas tanks full of food
Stomachs running on empty,
Boycott ethanol!
According to former president Bill Clinton, “Corn is the single most inefficient way to produce ethanol.” So to clarify my previous haiku, ” boycott corn based ethanol. “ Kim Chi Ha, Korean poet and political activist, once wrote, “food is heaven.” Now, “food is gasoline” is more apropos. Turning a field of corn into cash is having a devastating impact around the world. Although there are complex issues for the astronomical rise in food prices, filtering off crops to make bio-fuels plays a role. No one eats switch grass and it produces higher yields. We need to fill it up with something more efficient and less inflationary.
April 14, 2008
Shopping at Wal-Mart
Customers in pajamas
Feeling at home.
One of the sure signs of cultural decline is the blurring of the lines between the private and the public. For example, people who go to the movie theater and act like they are in their own living room. Or, people who act like they are in their own kitchen while eating at McDonalds. Every time I go to Wal-Mart my social analysis is confirmed. The whole store is walking around in pajama pants. Our country’s sense of social propriety is slowly but surely dissolving. Put your slippers on and get ready to face the future.
April 13, 2008 ~ Sacred Sunday
Wounded by their faith
Catholic victims of Boston,
Untouched by the Pope.
Shame on Pope Benedict for not including Boston on the itinerary of his U.S. visit. Although Roman Catholic clergy abused children throughout the country, Boston serves as the locus of the priest sex abuse scandal. Why not relocate one of the planned open air mass masses to Fenway Park? The American Catholic community does not need a papal sideshow with all the trimmings of the church triumphant. The American faithful would benefit more from seeing Benedict get on his knees seeking the forgiveness of the victims of abuse. Reaching out to those who continue to suffer would be a truly Christ-like gesture.
April 12, 2008 ~ Sports Saturday
Harmony gets torched
Olympic flame’s worldwide tour,
Running from the truth.
They can run, but they cannot hide. Regardless of how successful the Olympics are, Tibet remains occupied, and human rights denied. There can be no victory lap for China. Bringing the world to China is a great venue to point out the host country’s shortcomings. Perhaps this is not what Beijing had hoped for. The mascot is cute, but the reality of human rights abuse in China is ugly.
April 11, 2008 ~ Guest Haiku
My diamonds of pain
Buried, compressed within,
Jewels for no one.
Debra Sparling
Debra is my wife’s oldest friend. I delight in the depth and breadth of their friendship. Their past connects them in wonderful ways. She is an origami master as well.
April 10, 2008
Peace in the old sod
Divided by religion,
Euro makes them one.
Today is the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement between the former warring Christians of Ireland. Growing up as a south side Irish Catholic, my loyalties were clear. Although my family was too apolitical, suburban, and law abiding to raise funds for the IRA, some of the people I lived around were not. For me, Ireland was the land of limericks and leprechauns. I believed that Irish eyes were always smiling.
In college, I began to study the history of Ireland. I became familiar with the political players, the violence, the despair. I embraced my Irish heritage and began to despise England’s domination of my family’s homeland, at least 3/4 of my family. I even once attended an Ian Paisley talk intending to disrupt it, but the size of his body guards and the overwhelming number of protestant supporters in the crowd persuaded me to keep quiet.
Years ago we hosted a protestant woman and her child from Northern Ireland for the summer. She had never been inside a catholic home. Our open mindedness and the lack of papal images on the wall comforted her. She had lived on the Peace Line and witnessed lots of violence.
The Good Friday Agreement seems to be working. Ireland is prosperous. There is so little news about the former “troubles”. Perhaps people are too busy building new lives that they have no time to tear them down.
April 9, 2008
Long before his “Dream”.
Her songs defeated hatred,
Under Lincoln’s gaze.
In 1939, Marian Anderson was refused permission to sing in Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). In response to the racist snub, Eleanor Roosevelt, and thousands of other members, quit the DAR. Shortly thereafter, Anderson was invited to sing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. 75,000 attended her concert and millions of people heard it on the radio. Let freedom sing!
April 8, 2008
Hyacinths blooming
To the song of the Robin,
Farewell, Orion.
Spring is a welcome change. The warmer weather , the sights of flowers and the sounds of birds are a joy to behold and behear. Yet, despite all the good, the coming of spring creates an inevitable sadness. Soon Orion will be out of sight. This giant constellation rises over our house in the fall and serves as a winter guardian. The celestial hunter moves on, just as one day, we all must.
April 7, 2008
Snickers with caffeine
Energy drink elixirs,
Rat race gets faster.
As a coffee drinker I have no basis for criticizing our caffeinated culture, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity having come upon a caffeine laced Snickers bar. Other options that might soon hit the shelves:
Lemon heads with Lipitor
Zagnut with Zoloft
Vicadent Violet Crumble
Cialis – o – Stick
Musketeer with Methodone
M&M Morphines
April 6, 2008 ~ Sacred Sunday
Be the risen Christ
On the road to Emmaus,
or on any street.
For Christians there are many ways to encounter the risen Christ. For Catholics, Christ’s presence in the Eucharist is considered to be the primary experience. For many Protestants, Christ is most present in the Word, or in the New Testament. But, what if there were no clergy to celebrate mass, or no bibles to be found, how would the encounter occur?
Christianity exists based on its connection to both the historical Jesus of Nazareth and the resurrected Christ. St. Paul referred to the church as the body and Christ as the head. For me the most authentic experience of the presence of Christ is in the lives of the faithful. If God is love and Jesus was God, then through loving others and being loved that we most fully encounter God’s presence. Regardless of our religion, denomination, or lack thereof, love is the means by which God is present in us, and we in God.
April 5, 2008 ~ Sports Saturday
Baseball religion
Mickey Mantle Madrasas
Fields of the faithful.
Jacque Ellul, in his book The Technological Society issued a warning to modern culture. He expressed his concern that technology and technique were impinging on every aspect of life. He saw human freedom being reduced as people became consumed by replacing human fluidity with technological rigidity.
In many ways baseball has fallen prey to this temptation. Everything from over-coaching to hyper-training may be producing more wins and higher batting averages, but the down side is the carefree game of baseball played by me in my childhood is disappearing from the landscape of American life. The quasi professionalization of the game has created a haves and have-nots among little leaguers that mimics the big leagues. Travel team baseball is an industry in itself. If adults want to spend all their free time minivanning it from one tournament to another that is their choice. But, they might want to leave the players behind once and awhile so they don’t get burned out. Who knows, the kids might have enough time on their hands to get together with friends from the neighborhood to play a game by themselves, free from the expectation of parents and the instruction of coaches. Kids playing ball by themselves is a joy to behold, as long as none of the players can see us watching.
April 4, 2008
Old faves, newer raves
T.V. sucks time from my soul,
earth orbits the sun.
Stanley Campbell, Peace Activist and Vietnam Veteran, etc.
Stan is one of my heroes. He carries on the dream of M.L.K. by working for justice and peace in Northern, Illinois. He makes us better. Stanley has been a voice of conscience in the Rockford area for decades. He’s kind of like an Old Testament prophet who took a job working for the Methodists. He is both courageous and outrageous. He annoys and inspires.
I hinted to Stan that he should write a haiku about his amazing journeys to Iran, Cuba, and Palestine/Israel. Instead I get his profound Marshall McLuhanesque poesy about the spiritual cost of watching too much T.V. The man never ceases to amaze me.
April 3, 2008
A conspiracy,
Silence of the good people
Violence of the bad.
He went to Memphis to help sanitation workers gain better working conditions. Some had advised him not to go. But Martin practiced what he preached. In his final speech he mentioned the need to develop a “dangerous unselfishness.” Given his words forty years ago tonight, he knew something about what April 4th would bring. His premonition did not cause him to leave town, or cancel is engagements. His was a life of strength and courage. If he hadn’t been murdered in Memphis it would have been Harlem, rural Mississippi, or inner-city Chicago. The bravest prophets are taken down by a conspiracy of cowards. To reread his final speech, visit http://www.afscme.org/about/1549.cfm
April 2, 2008
The end of the world
Curriculum is cut out,
All history now!
What I love most about teaching is how my students become aware of the world in which they live. I have had the great fortune of teaching World Geography for the last four years. Each year my students and I travel around the world.
We visit Africa first because that is were we come from. With Bob Geldof as a tour guide, we learn how Africa is the luminous continent. We visit Djibouti and encounter people like Nelson Mandela. We travel to India and follow the life and struggle of Gandhi. We peer into Vietnam and become educated about the lessons of a lost war. We drop in on Japan and take a trip into my own past. We eat some food and speak some of the language. We go down under and learn about the treatment of aborigines through the story of the lost generation.
Our journey carries us to the continent of South America where we encounter the Incas as well as the native people of the Amazon struggling to remain. Heading north we meet with Archbishop Romero and the poor of Central America. The time we spend in Mexico enriches us with its amazing culture and beautiful people. Then we sail to Europe and learn lessons from the great diversity of people who have dominated the world for centuries. We study the Holocaust and are stunned by the brutality people suffered. We head East to Russia and then fly back to North America to study the U.S. and Canada.
There is so much we do, but our days as globetrotters are numbered. School district #205 has decided to rid itself of the responsibility of teaching 7th graders about the immensity and sacredness of the world. Now they will learn the long litany of the names of dead white men and the wars they raged. U.S. History will replace World Geography. The world will become smaller and the past will receive more attention than the present and future.
April 1, 2008
Website is shut down
By Poemland Security,
17 detained.
Poemland Security has taken Haikuhito into custody. NPR reported that the ISP had been infiltrated by the FBI and subsequently apprehended by the CIA while trying to escape into cyberspace. Unconfirmed reports claim that Haikuhito has been moved into a government mainframe computer located in Guantanamo Bay. A Defense Department spokesman says that all further haikus will be based on patriotic themes that support the war effort and will rhyme.
March 31, 2008
Learning to shut up
To listen to the silence,
Wisdom of nothing.
Commentary:
March 30, 2008
The early Christians
Taking care of each other,
A bunch of commies.
The early Christians shared a communal life together. According to the Book of Acts, “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. . ” The early church was apocalyptic. They thought the end was coming soon and felt no need to hoard possessions. The early church remained free from materialism for a long time. In the words of St. Basil, “The bread that you store up belongs to the hungry; the coat that lies in your chest belongs to the naked; the gold that you have hidden in the ground belongs to the poor.”
Prior to the church becoming the spokesman of the empire, it was the advocate of the poor. Throughout the existence of the church it has struggled with the question, “Which side are you on?” All too often the church hierarchy has sided with the rich and powerful while providing lip service to the gospel. In the beginning, the church was ready and waiting for the end to come. Over time we have lost patience and have decided to get it while we can in this world. Fortunately, there have been numerous people throughout the centuries who have reminded us of our original generosity and compassion.
March 29, 2008
Sons of Davidson
10th seed takes command of court
Goliath gets rocked.
Underdog, dark horse, Cinderella, ice cube in hell, long shot or whatever we call them, they are the heroes of the hopeful and the bane of anyone who bets on the favorites. I bet against them and I am delighting in my defeat.
March 28, 2008
Cash for your haikus!
Become a famous poet!
Career potential!
Walt Whitman answered a poetry apprentice ad, look what happened to him. E.E. Cummings took a poetry correspondence course ~ what results! Emily Dickenson made a call in response to a “Help, poetry wanted” flyer. Do you have what it takes to have your haiku appear on the WWW?
Actually, none of the poets mentioned above did any of those things (that we know of). But, the opportunity exists for you to amaze your friends and neighbors by having one of your haikus appear on haikuhito.com All you have to do is contact Haikuhito@gmail.com Feel free to submit a short commentary as well. All submissions for the Guest Haiku are taken whenever you mail them in. Feel free to submit as many as your like. When your poem appears is up to the governing board of Haikuhito Enterprises, Inc. All poems submitted become the property of the universe.
March 27, 2008
What should Dalai do?
What should any of us do?
Live as one, be kind.
Perhaps it is time for the Dalai Lama to go home. He can take the opportunity to walk the streets of Lhasa and tell his people to be non-violent. He could reach out to the Chinese soldiers and tell them that he is their brother. He could show the world that he is against violence. He could make his plea for Tibet to become autonomous, not independent. He could even use the opportunity to promote the Olympics.
A return would put him at great risk. He might be arrested, or worse, assassinated, A journey to Tibet would allow him to speak to the world from the one place that the whole world would listen. The Dalai Lama has taught the world about peace, compassion, and justice. He has said all that can be said. Perhaps now the time has come for him to return.
The problem is that the Chinese government would never let him back in his country. They are afraid of the power of his presence. The government of the largest country in the world is deeply afraid of one man. He is not a god, he is not a general. He is a monk who proclaims that there should be no enemies. He is a human being who believes in compassion and goodness. He is the best that our species has to offer.
March 26, 2008
A long winter walk
Jacksonian genocide,
Nunna dual tsuny*
* The trail where they cried
The Cherokee tribe had developed a constitutional democracy, a written language, a highly developed civilization, and a rich cultural heritage. The only problem was their homeland happened to be in the very same place as Georgia, and Andrew Jackson was the President.
The Supreme Court of the United States recognized the Cherokee’s status as an independent nation. Jackson did not. Their right to exist was defended by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Davy Crockett, Daniel Webster, and other leaders of the time. President Jackson violated the separation of powers by ignoring the decision of the court and created a plan to remove the Cherokee from their ancestral lands. In 1938, Martin Van Buren implemented the plan Jackson developed and ordered the forced removal of 16,000 Cherokees. On their wintry journey, 4000 men, women, and children died. What is known as the Trail of Tears concluded on this day, March 26, 1839.
March 25, 2008
The surge is working
Except for U.S. soldiers,
Deadliest year yet.
The praise for the success of the surge is abhorrent. By what measure is success defined? Iraq is safer for Iraqis, but not for U.S. soldiers. More of our brave young men and women are at greater risk now than at any other time during the war. All the talk about the surge is doublespeak. The lies that began with false reports of “weapons of mass destruction”, “uranium shipments from Africa”, and “Sadaam’s involvement with 9/11″ continue.
March 24, 2008
Jesus came again
As a Salvadoran soul,
This time we shot him.
Archbishop Oscar Romero was murdered while saying the Eucharistic prayers during mass on March 24, 1980. According to a U.N. report, two of the gunmen received training at the School of the Americas at Ft. Benning, Georgia Archbishop Romero was one of the 10s of 1000s to be killed in El Salvador at the hands of government sponsored death squads. He shared in the destiny of both the poor he served and the savior in whom he believed. He was a Christ-like figure in the history of El Salvador. His commitment to justice and e and his willingness to sacrifice his own life for the poor is evidence of the resurrection.
March 23, 2008
Choose resurrection
From whatever death binds you,
Leave your tomb and live.
For St. Paul, Easter is everything. He stated, “If Christ was not raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your trust in God is useless.” (1 Cor: 15:14) What about the value of Jesus’ great commandment? Doesn’t the invitation to love God with all our hearts and our neighbor as our self have intrinsic value? Are all the works and words of Jesus reduced to ashes if he had not risen from the dead?
Christianity, like other religions, is too often reduced to a theological proposition, and ontological answer, a “my religion is right and yours is wrong” argument. The value of any faith is not found in its historical accuracy, but rather in its ability to influence and alter history through the goodness and courage of believers.
March 22, 2008
Dodgers tie Padres
China’s PR victory,
Team Tibet loses.
A week prior to the N.Y. Philharmonic playing to standing ovations in Pyongyang, North Korea publicly executed 13 women and 2 men for crossing the border into China in search of food. Last week while excited fans watched the Dodgers battle the Padres in Beijing, Chinese troops rolled into occupied Tibet to put down protests. What role does cultural exchange play when dealing with tyrants and oppressive regimes? Should freedom loving American musicians and baseball players be entertaining the so-called enemies of democracy and human rights? If the answer is “no”, what are we doing in China and North Korea? If the answer is “yes” why aren’t we hitting homers in Havana and listening to the Philharmonic play Ey Iran in Tehran?
March 21, 2008
Go find the crosses
Upon which Jesus still hangs,
Make this Friday good.
So many of them, so many of us.
March 20, 2008
4000 soldiers
Happy anniversary,
Bush has no regrets.
It was reported that President Bush said he had no regrets about the Iraq war (NPR, 3/19/08) . This must be inaccurate. 4000 families have lost their sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, dads, or moms. Unconfirmed reports claim that nearly a half a million Iraqis have been killed. The amount of death and destruction, suffering and sorrow the war has caused in incalculable. The reporter must have made a mistake.
The strength, courage and commitment of the Chinese people is an example from which we can all learn. People are putting themselves in harms way to help save people buried in rubble. The government may violate human rights, but the people uphold human dignity.