Sunday, November 27, 2016

Sunday Papers: Robert MacFarlan


"Before you become a writer you must first become a reader.  Every hour spent reading is an hour spent learning to write."

On the turntable: Bruce Springsteen, "Darkness on the Edge of Town"

Friday, November 25, 2016

Mukaijima, Innoshima, Ikuchijima




Number Five in the Inland Sea series at Japan Visitor.

http://www.japanvisitor.com/japan-city-guides/mukaijima


On the turntable: M-Base Collective, "M-Base Collective featuring Cassandra Wilson Live"

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Sunday Papers: Robert Shelton


"Woody (Guthrie) hit the road at seventeen, and the road kept hitting him back."


On the turntable:  Ben Harper, "Diamonds on the Inside"

 


Tuesday, November 15, 2016

(untitled)




Yellow leaves
Shown no regard
By men in grey suits.


On the turntable:  Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, "Summer in the Southeast"
On the nighttable:  Knut Hamsun, "Wayfarers"

 

Monday, November 14, 2016

Narrow Road Signs XV






A lesson in the habits of air:

Nocturnal Autumn wind
Dances with the steam
Upon hot spring waters.


On the turntable:  Beck, "Mellow Gold"
On the nighttable:  George Orwell, "Coming up for Air"

Sunday, November 13, 2016

Sunday Paper: Honore de Balzac


"This is why the Orient boasts so few writers. One lives too much in oneself to have anything left of the self to hand out to others. What is the point of thought, there, where all is feeling?"

On the turntable:  Bob Dylan, "Going Going Guam"

Saturday, November 12, 2016

Honjima




Fourth in the Inland Sea series:

www.japanvisitor.com/japan-guides/honjima


On the turntable: Cream, "Wheels on Fire"

Friday, November 11, 2016

(untitled)




Above the mossy garden,
Moisture hangs in the air like
Lingering tears.


On the turntable:  Camper Van Beethoven, "The Third Album"

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Narrow Road Signs XIV




The white of wings
Brilliant against a dark grey sky
Foreshadows the coming snow.


On the turntable:  Charles Lloyd, "All my Relations" 

Wednesday, November 09, 2016

(untitled)





On this night,
Of all nights,
Even the moon is divided.


On the turntable:  Chet Baker Trio, "Strollin'"

Tuesday, November 08, 2016

Euthanizing Democracy



Even the highest walls
Can not keep our hatred
From crossing borders.


I've tried to mostly stay out of the political fracas this year, but today I feel the need to chime in and say America,
Trump is the president you deserve (for your sins).
Saunders is the president you want (but aren't ready for).
Clinton is the president you need (as a stopgap at least).

The eyes of the world are upon you. Do the right thing.

Though it goes without saying that, besides the obvious victory for gender, we all lose in this election.


On the turntable:  Charles Mingus, "Live in Chateauvallon"

Monday, November 07, 2016

Narrow Road Signs XIII




Itabi stones
Send heavenward their prayers,
In the company of ginkgos.


On the turntable:  Beck, "Odelay"
On the nighttable:  Janice P. Nimura, "Daughters of the Samurai"
 

Sunday, November 06, 2016

Sunday Papers: Mark Gayn


"Democracy is no better than the men who shape it."

On the turntable: Bob Dylan, "Live 1975"

Saturday, November 05, 2016

Narrow Road Signs XII




Cold winds from the west
Bring harrow to
Lingering summer grasses


On the turntable:   Bob Dylan, "Planet Waves"

Friday, November 04, 2016

Narrow Road Signs XI





Seen through the island's
Splayed branches of pine,
A sliver of moon.

On the turntable:  Can. "Unlimited Release"

Wednesday, November 02, 2016

The Brilliant Folds of Akihisa Hirata




This week on ZenVita, I explore the manipulations of 
Akikhisa Hirata's origami inspired architecture.

http://www.zenvita.com/blog/the-brilliant-folds-of-akihisa-hirata.html


On the turntable:   Can, "Box Music"