\u201cWesterners like to conquer mountains; Orientals like to contemplate them. As for me, I like to taste the mountains.\u201d \u2014Santoka Taneda<\/p>\n
Ocean Tasting is a group of poems inspired by \u201cMountain Tasting, Haiku and Journals of Santoka Taneda.” Santoka Taneda (1882-1940) was a Zen poet in the wandering hermit tradition of Japan. I have been inspired by his journals as much as his haiku. In place of ‘Tasting Mountains’ I have written two sonnet trilogies which I call ‘Ocean Tasting’.
\nThis second sonnet trilogy welcomes Ono Kazuhiko to Saipan. Ono is the new consul for the Consular Office of Japan on Saipan, CNMI. Prior to coming here Ono was in the Japanese Consul Office in Wellington, New Zealand. He began his service here in the CNMI on May 8, 2019. He will be attending an annual Shinto memorial service held on the southeast cliffs of Tinian on June 19, 2019.<\/p>\n
OCEAN TASTING # 2, a sonnet trilogy<\/p>\n
SANTOKA\u2019S THREE PRECEPTS<\/p>\n
DO NOT WASTE ANYTHING
\nuse the blue plastic bottle rings for Impressionist art bubbles
\nevery wrapped baby, puppy, and kitty, for warm fuzzy cuddles
\nthe chance to splash and wade through muddy mud puddles
\nreuse the boiled water left after cooking any noodles<\/p>\n
DO NOT GET ANGRY
\nhard to forgive the drug addict swinging at my head
\neasy to get up early after just going to bed
\nswallowing my pride when insults were said
\neating food I burned instead of going unfed<\/p>\n
DO NOT COMPLAIN
\nabout the rain when you wanted to walk
\nabout silence in the library when you wanted to talk
\nabout cats spraying everywhere and NO Parking
\nabout no room on Lover\u2019s lane for some sparking<\/p>\n
OCEAN TASTING
\nwaste not want not, cold or hot, the brain maintains
\nthe sound of rain on banana leaves gently explains<\/p>\n
SANTOKA\u2019S THREE VOWS<\/p>\n
DO NOT ATTEMPT THE IMPOSSIBLE
\nscrambling hiking then falling face down on the sea cliff
\nstaying warm enough sleeping in a snow cave not stiff
\nstanding twelve hours in place till someone gives me a lift
\nrefusing to give in to laughter then getting a great gift<\/p>\n
DO NOT FEEL REGRET ABOUT THE PAST
\nshoulda woulda coulda sometimes vows
\nfirst refusal then easily making some bows
\njumping from trees on the back of grazing cows
\nlearning and asking the who, whys, when and hows<\/p>\n
DO NOT BERATE ONESELF
\nmad that I got mad at you and mad at me too
\nbored with myself just couldn\u2019t think it through
\nparticle theory physics only partly proven true
\nslowly recovering from self-pity and feeling blue<\/p>\n
OCEAN TASTING
\nnow old enough at 69 to enjoy some looking back
\nno regrets, no tears goodbye, getting elderly knack<\/p>\n
SANTOKA\u2019S THREE JOYS<\/p>\n
STUDY
\nreading in bed turning from side to side
\nreading on the ground ants mouths open wide
\nreading by the sea at sea level and on the cliffs
\nreading at the kitchen table delicious whiffs<\/p>\n
CONTEMPLATION
\nthinking about thinking about thinking
\nbefore during and a long time after drinking
\nfalling asleep tender thoughts sinking
\nboth ears open to music both eyes blinking<\/p>\n
POETRY
\nin seven minutes many a written sonnet
\ndifferent topics with fourteen lines on it
\nI knew at first glance that I really want it
\nthoughts quickly come in waves like a comet<\/p>\n
OCEAN TASTING
\ncalm waters and rough seas in the Pacific Ocean
\nwaves tides currents help create the commotion<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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