Sijo
by Dae Wi “Scrub” Lee
My father was forced to leave his family for Korea
right after his son was born and was left with his mother.
That medic left that hard war at the thirty-eighth parallel.
Dae Wi “Scrub” Lee is a poet of Korea. His father had been a medic in the Korean War (1950-1953). Sijo is a traditional three-line Korean poetic form, that appeared near the end of the Goryeo dynasty.
~~~
Six Blind Men
by Sri Wele Cebuda
Six blind men went to determine what an
elephant is like. The man who touches
the leg says it’s like a pillar. The man
who touches the elephant’s tail judges
it to be rope. The one who feels the trunk
compares it to a branch. The one who felt
the belly thought that it was like a chunk
of wall, while the one who the big ear held
thought it was like a fan. The tusk feeler
thought it a solid pipe. An old sage then
said: “All of you are right. You each touched part,
and so you each have part of the truth.” When
he heard this, a young fool spoke from his heart,
“On the contrary, I must speak my mind.
You are all wrong, and furthermore, all blind!”
Sri Wele Cebuda is a poet of Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain.
~~~
A Sacrifice to Dagon
by Esecwiel Barud
And so the great lords of the Philistines
did gather thence to offer sacrifice
to Dagon, their main god, and to rejoice.
They said, “Our god has given the Danines’
Samson, our enemy, into our hands,
the ravager of our beloved land,
he who has slain so many of us.” When
their hearts were merry, they said, “Call Samson
that he may make sport for us.” And so he came.
And they made sport of him. A lad led him
between the temple’s pillars. That self-same
lad Samson then addressed. “Let me feel them,
the pillars tall, on which this temple rests,
that I may pause, and on them lean against.
Esecwiel Barud is a poet of Ancient Israel. Known for his strength, Samson [“like the Sun”] (fl. c. 1100 BC) was a judge of Ancient Israel.
~~~
A Memory, at Karnak
by “Scribe” El Uwade
The brilliant Sun shines in the sky, much as it did
in the times of the New Kingdom, when Iknaton
abandoned the worship of multi-faceted
Amon for Aton, the one and only true one,
and isolated himself near Hermopolis
in the newly built capital of Amarna,
where he dwelt, as the empire around him toppled
to little more than a memory, at Karnak.
“Scribe” El Uwade is a poet of Egypt.
~~~
A Height at Which We Balk
by Ercules Edibwa
Above the city of Athens upon
the Acropolis, the Parthenon stands
in ruins, a pale and faint reflection
of its original splendor and gran-
deur. Even in its delapidated
state, one can sense from the reality
of its form, although now antiquated,
adumbrations of ideality.
Here it remains, Pericles’ commission
under Phidias’ direction, a stone
beacon to the world, the awesome vision
of a vigorous land, planned, built, and shown
for all the nations to see, for all time,
a height at which we balk, or else we climb.
Ercules Edibwa is a poet of Ancient Greece. Pericles (c. 495 BC – 429 BC) was an Athenian statesman; Phidias (c. 480 BC – 430 BC) was a noted sculptor, painter, and architect of Ancient Greece. Modern Athens has a population of around 640,000.
~~~
The Festival of Love
by I Warble Seduce
It is long gone—the Festival of Love—
at Aphrodite’s Temple at Paphos
in southwest Cypress, azure skies above
the bright, foamy sea-waves from which she rose.
The goddess, noble and magnificent,
no longer walks with flowers blossoming
beneath her feet, so lovely, redolent.
No longer is it such an awesome thing.
Today at Paphos all that yet remains
are broken columns, steps, mosaic floors,
a stadium of stone that time disdains,
and the occasional hallways and doors
that go to nowhere in particular…
pathetic, silently oracular.
I Warble Seduce is a poet of Love. Present-day Paphos, Cypress, has a population of around 1.4 million.
~~~
Pilate Offered
by Aedile Cwerbus
Pilate offered the Jewish populace,
surrounding him in a parabola,
the release of Jesus or Barabbas.
They opted for the latter. The rabble
preferred the rebel, the bandit,
the seditious prisoner over Christ.
When offered a choice [How could they stand it?],
they wanted the Lamb to be sacrificed.
So, though the Father’s Son was crucified,
the Son of the Father escaped. His spirit
was set free the moment the former died;
although the mob did not want to hear it.
The latter, then, was thus condemned to roam
across the earth, until he reached his home.
Aedile Cwerbus is a poet of Ancient Rome. Barabbas flourished around the 1st century. Pontius Pilate was the Governor Of Judaea from 26 BC to 36 BC.
~~~
The Departure
by El Cid E. W. Rubesa
His soulful eyes did look on life, and sorely did he weep.
He turned his head upon the gate. His heart hurt hard and deep.
He saw the door from hinges torn. He had to take this trip,
and leave behind the pegs, without a hawk’s or falcon’s grip,
and all his people too. He sighed with so much grief and care,
it was as if he had now fallen into black despair.
“Oh, Father, God, in Heaven, You, who are so true and high,
I now give thanks to You, although my foes do make me cry.”
His horse did shake its reins, as if it was the time to go,
to leave Bivar forever, while upon his right a crow
did caw. He had so far to go. It followed him along,
until he came to Burgos. On his left, it went—this song.
And so he shrugged his shoulders. Then in sadness shook his head.
So barren was the land he trod, he felt like he was dead.
“Oh, father, we are banished for forever from our land.
Oh, it has vanished from my sight, and all I see is sand.
Perhaps someday I shall return in honor once again
to look upon my town once more and see my own townsmen.
It’s possible, of course, I’ll never see, before I die,
Castile, or its stone-cast castles, rising to the sky.”
El Cid E. W. Rubesa is a poet of Ancient Spain. El Cid (c. 1043 – 1099) was a Castilian leader and hero.
~~~
Today upon Saint Valentine’s Day
by Beadle Crew USI
Today he saw the Eggman; it was on Saint Valentine’s.
He was in back of a refrigerated glass-door’s signs.
He was out-placing cartons of the pasture-raised on shelves.
He told the Eggman two of them contained some broken shells.
He said that he was sorry to plague him with his outsights;
but th’ Eggman said he didn’t care, and that it was alright.
He then proceeded on with a full dozen healthy eggs
to get some xylitol gum on still two good-working legs.
Together, I am he, and you are me, and we are all
together in the pouring rain, birds of a feather…lol.
Beadle Crew USI is a poetic group. Saint Valentine was a 3rd century Roman Christian martyr.
~~~
JPMorgan’s Staley to Jeffrey Epstein
by Brad Lee Suciew
“I’m in the hot tub with a glass of wine…I owe you much.”[I do] “appreciate our friendship. I have few,” [dear chum].
Brad Lee Suciew is a poet of business.
~~~
A Good, Long Roomy Stare
by Cawb Edius Reel
The movie had been oversold, just standing only room,
He had to suck in tight to even see the show resume.
He stood up tall, as tall as he was able to…and more.
He had to be as narrow as he could be, arms and core.
And even then, it wasn’t quite enough. He couldn’t help
but be pushed on, this way and that—yes, that was how he felt.
He tried to watch the show without him being bumped about,
but that he could not do no matter what he tried, and how…
So, then he felt it wasn’t worth it, and he stalked away,
and left a malcontent; he’d have to come another day.
And thus he went out to the lobby—There were pictures there—
and paused to take them in and had a good, long, roomy stare.
Cawb Edius Reel is a poet of film.
~~~
For Those Who May Be Interested:
My Ship
by Wu “Sacred Bee” Li
My ship is built of spice-wood with a rudder of mulan.
Musicians play their bamboo flutes and pipes of golden-tan.
Such pleasure of sweet wine and singing girls on the waves;
I’m happier than airy fairies on the yellow crane.
With strokes of my inspired pen, I see Five Mountains rise.
I laugh, and my delight is vaster than the sea and sky.
Enduring poetry, Chu Yuan, loyal minister,
though palaces of the Chu kings have vanished in time’s stir,
your words have lasted centuries, as has the River Han.
The Yangtse tributary still goes on and on and on.
Wu “Sacred Bee” Li is a poet of ancient China. My ship is a “translation” of a poem by Li Bai (602-762). Mulan means wood orchid. The above poem was first published @ Oddball Magazine, December 21, 2018.
The following critical evaluation of it comes from Edward @ La tre: on May 5, 2025.
Un Viaje Poético: Li Bai y Chu Yuan en un Tennos Moderno
by Edward
La interacción entre la sabiduría antigua y la expresión moderna forma un diálogo fascinante a través del tiempo. Esta exploración se adentra en un poema tennos inspirado en el poeta de la dinastía Tang, Li Bai (701-762), entrelazado con ecos del anterior Chu Yuan (340-278 a. C.), demostrando cómo los temas atemporales de la naturaleza, la alegría y el legado artístico trascienden los siglos.
Contents
• Un Viaje en Madera de Especias y Mulan: Capturando la Esencia de Li Bai
• Ascendiendo las Cinco Montañas: El Poder de la Inspiración Poética
• El Legado Duradero de Chu Yuan: Un Afluente del Tiempo
• Una Confluencia de Voces: Temas Atemporales en la Poesía
Un Viaje en Madera de Especias y Mulan: Capturando la Esencia de Li Bai
El tennos, titulado “Mi Barco”, se inspira en las imágenes evocadoras y el espíritu exuberante de Li Bai. Si bien no es una traducción directa, busca capturar la esencia de su visión poética.
“Mi barco está hecho de madera de especias con un timón de mulan. Los músicos tocan sus flautas de bambú y gaitas doradas. Tal placer de vino dulce y chicas cantando sobre las olas; Soy más feliz que hadas aéreas en la grulla amarilla.” Estas líneas pintan una imagen vibrante de un viaje lujoso, lleno de música, alegría y una sensación de deleite de otro mundo. Los materiales exóticos del barco, los instrumentos melodiosos y la alusión a las míticas grullas amarillas contribuyen a una atmósfera de encanto y escapismo.
Ascendiendo las Cinco Montañas: El Poder de la Inspiración Poética
El poema luego cambia a una contemplación del poder creativo del poeta: “Con trazos de mi pluma inspirada, veo surgir las Cinco Montañas. Río, y mi deleite es más vasto que el mar y el cielo.” Esto enfatiza el poder transformador del arte, donde la imaginación del poeta puede conjurar paisajes enteros. La inmensidad de la alegría del poeta, que supera incluso la vastedad de la naturaleza, habla del profundo impacto emocional de la expresión creativa.
El Legado Duradero de Chu Yuan: Un Afluente del Tiempo
La estrofa final presenta la figura de Chu Yuan, un poeta y ministro conocido por su patriotismo y trágico destino: “Poesía perdurable, Chu Yuan, ministro leal, aunque los palacios de los reyes Chu se han desvanecido en la agitación del tiempo, tus palabras han durado siglos, al igual que el río Han. El afluente del Yangtsé sigue y sigue y sigue.” Esto evoca una sensación del paso del tiempo, donde los imperios se derrumban, pero el poder de las palabras perdura. La referencia al río Han, un afluente del Yangtsé, sirve como metáfora del flujo continuo de la tradición literaria, conectando el pasado y el presente.
Una Confluencia de Voces: Temas Atemporales en la Poesía
“Mi Barco” no es simplemente un homenaje a Li Bai, sino una reflexión sobre el poder perdurable de la poesía misma. Al entretejer la imagen de Chu Yuan y el río que fluye eternamente, el poema se conecta con temas más amplios del legado artístico y el deseo humano atemporal de encontrar consuelo y significado frente a la mortalidad. El tennos, a través de sus imágenes evocadoras y resonancia temática, demuestra cómo las voces antiguas pueden seguir inspirándonos y resonando con nosotros hoy. El vibrante tapiz de la tradición literaria china, tejido a través de los hilos de Li Bai, Chu Yuan y el poeta moderno, nos invita a explorar el poder perdurable de las palabras para navegar las corrientes del tiempo.