Tag Archives: poetry

For acting poetry

Posted on April 21, 2022 by Confanity

起承転結ki.shou.ten.ketsu Literally: wake up – receive – revolve – bind Alternately: The four phases of a text, according to traditional analysis: “introduction, development, turn, and conclusion.” In other words, the setup, development, climax (or major change, twist, etc.), and resolution … Continue reading →

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And still the generations of the birds sing through our sighing

Posted on October 3, 2021 by Confanity

(Elizabeth Barret Browning, “Patience Taught by Nature”) 鳴くまで待とう時鳥(Naku made matou hototogisu;“We shall wait until it sings – The lovely cuckoo”) Definition: An expression of patience, of waiting for something good to happen or a good opportunity to arise. If the … Continue reading →

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Wolves among the flowers

Posted on January 13, 2021 by Confanity

落花狼藉 ra-.kka.rou.zeki Literally: fall – flower – wolf – spread Alternately: Things are scattered or disorganized. Chaos and disorder. Violence, especially violence directed towards women and children. Notes: As with last week’s yojijukugo, this is a compound of compounds, with … Continue reading →

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I know why the caged monkey sings

Posted on August 26, 2020 by Confanity

籠鳥檻猿 rou.chou.kan.en Literally: cage – bird – (jail) cell/pen – monkey Alternately: Unfree; specifically, having had one’s freedom taken away. Living like a bird – or monkey – in a cage, unable to do what you want. Notes: This phrase … Continue reading →

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When your stat spread make you crabby

Posted on July 12, 2020 by Confanity

蟹は甲羅に似せて穴を掘る (Kani wa koura ni nisete ana wo horu; “A crab digs its hole to match its shell”) Definition: People think and act according to their personal circumstances and abilities. Just as a small crab will dig a small burrow … Continue reading →

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Poetry. Poetry never changes.

Posted on June 12, 2019 by Confanity

What falls away is always? 不易流行 fu.eki.ryuu.kou Literally: not – simple / divination / change – flow – go Alternately: One of Bashō’s principles for writing haiku: that the essence of haiku lies in both the unchanging (不易) and in … Continue reading →

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Zen and the art of shining a footlight

Posted on May 15, 2019 by Confanity

脚下照顧 kya-.kka.shou.ko Literally: leg – below – illuminate – look back Alternately: Make time to look within. More literally, “make sure to look carefully under your own feet.” 照顧 is a Zen Buddhist term for consideration, reflection, introspection. This is … Continue reading →

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A Raven, to a Wren

Posted on November 14, 2014 by Confanity

A Raven, to a Wren Bound about by this city, smog, steel, Brother and sister bird-chicks, blindly dreaming flight under its gray sky-shell Feeling the outer world invisible, closed and open spaces, winds and havens What can we do, as … Continue reading →

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