welcome to the haikutimes
Issue #54: China, Tongli and Hangzhou, April 10-11, 2003. Haiku and photographs by jonathan.
4/10/03 Tongli
park for the people
made when ancient buildings fall
despite their protests
carp in abundance
on the toll road to tongli
duck ponds overflow
they put to good use
a forest of scaffolding
to build a highway
only for those who
could afford to meditate
this precious garden
heavy stone doorway
protection for the family
in anhui townhouse
from the autumn view
one can see the winter view
or the summer view
without reverence
for garden serenity
japanese tourists shout
am i as lovely
as the rest of this garden?
man takes my photo
cormorant holds fish
until forced from bulging neck
by fisherwoman
crossing three bridges
in the center of tongli
ensuring fortune
red-lacquered chamber
sun streams through wooden lattice
crabs dance on paper
ancestors' abode
where women received women
and men received men
little open space
between neighborhoods and towns
one massive suburb
just what i needed
inquisitive chinese eyes
while i am sketching
we
and the other americans
fill chinese ballroom
no lights, no helmet
no turn signal, no warning
cant find internet
4/10/03 hangzhou
now a certain repetition settling in
with our small group of seven people
facing off around a circular table
three times a day - my living companions
for the next two weeks as we together
scrutinize the myriad dishes that come
before us in quick succession.
the others are all world travelers;
i am amazed at how
many different parts of the globe we have
investigated, lived in, photographed.
i think of patty back home with
a new baby and the 1.3 billion
chinese people here
the thing i have not grasped
up to this point is how big this population is.
the chinese direction is,
in some way, the world's direction.
i am seeing the most densely
populated and busy areas of china, to be sure.
i can somehow put malaysia and singapore in perspective
after seeing the mainland.
tour leader lectures
while chinese police ladies
inspect nearby shop
desperate street vendors
rushing to meet me with items
of complete garbage
bonsai in mirror
reflecting grey haze of lake
and tourist logjam
wall of four seasons
concealing wisteria
behind in purple
young teenage chinese
sharing chatter and headphones
shouting at the carp
fattening red carp
tourists throw chunks of white bread,
watch feeding frenzy
hard to distinguish
whistles of exotic birds
from those of vendors
plantive peacock cry
like a wounded animal
in cry of distress
which more beautiful?
song dynasty lake gardens
or chinese women
like peacock shaking
bus engine shudders and spits
attracts nearby bus
pen under pressure
finding inner composure
while people look on
while i sketch buddha
red-headed chinese beauty
peers at my drawing
fine young spring tea leaf
destined for super grade a
or, next year, grade b
renaissance paintings
as seen through cloudy smoke haze
of chinese restaurant
four a.m. thunder
awakes me in confusion
in high rise hotel
now, thunder outside.
all day long, misty smoggy.
the boat ride, like glass on clouds.
the tour guide, a metronome of ancient chinese facts.
the dishes of food that pass
before us in a steady succession :
purple eggplant wedges in spicy oil
bamboo shoots with pork pieces
watery spinach, watery soup
lachong (spicy hot sauce pepi orders)
deep fried meats with vegetables
pretty chinese waitresses who stand silently
behind our table,
weak beer.
the real history is now,
what china is moving into and towards,
at this hectic pace of modernization.
i sketch fantastic buddhas
carved in rock walls only by forsaking the
tour with the group - so i don't see part
of the temple with the largest buddha in china -
but i do get to feel the close
pressing attention of hundreds of inquisitive
chinese tourists who want to look over
my shoulder at my drawing,
so i sketch aqualine
noses and delicately curved eyebrows
and stare past the heads of those
who stand right in front of me to take
pictures of all their friends.
4/11/03 hangzhou
busy web cafe
hard to find a free machine
for me to do mail
local internet
mostly young chinese students
playing danger games
and smoking
hacking and spitting
city dwellers find refuge
on peaceful mountain
legions of hikers
out for theraputic walk
making throat noises
man presses green tea
in giant electric wok
hands turning brown
making bamboo fence
and practicing opera
at bottom of trail
drivers maneuver
according to the tempo
unique to china
unmistakable
bravado sounds of opera
in hangzhou forest
her limp handshake
surprising me as i crush
each of her fingers
barbara's haiku:
mysterious mist
water rippling, boat gliding
pagodas hidden
willow trees weeping
blooming peaches pink, rose,white
white peacocks display
4/10/03 Tongli
park for the people
made when ancient buildings fall
despite their protests
carp in abundance
on the toll road to tongli
duck ponds overflow
they put to good use
a forest of scaffolding
to build a highway
only for those who
could afford to meditate
this precious garden
heavy stone doorway
protection for the family
in anhui townhouse
from the autumn view
one can see the winter view
or the summer view
without reverence
for garden serenity
japanese tourists shout
am i as lovely
as the rest of this garden?
man takes my photo
cormorant holds fish
until forced from bulging neck
by fisherwoman
crossing three bridges
in the center of tongli
ensuring fortune
red-lacquered chamber
sun streams through wooden lattice
crabs dance on paper
ancestors' abode
where women received women
and men received men
little open space
between neighborhoods and towns
one massive suburb
just what i needed
inquisitive chinese eyes
while i am sketching
we
and the other americans
fill chinese ballroom
no lights, no helmet
no turn signal, no warning
cant find internet
4/10/03 hangzhou
now a certain repetition settling in
with our small group of seven people
facing off around a circular table
three times a day - my living companions
for the next two weeks as we together
scrutinize the myriad dishes that come
before us in quick succession.
the others are all world travelers;
i am amazed at how
many different parts of the globe we have
investigated, lived in, photographed.
i think of patty back home with
a new baby and the 1.3 billion
chinese people here
the thing i have not grasped
up to this point is how big this population is.
the chinese direction is,
in some way, the world's direction.
i am seeing the most densely
populated and busy areas of china, to be sure.
i can somehow put malaysia and singapore in perspective
after seeing the mainland.
tour leader lectures
while chinese police ladies
inspect nearby shop
desperate street vendors
rushing to meet me with items
of complete garbage
bonsai in mirror
reflecting grey haze of lake
and tourist logjam
wall of four seasons
concealing wisteria
behind in purple
young teenage chinese
sharing chatter and headphones
shouting at the carp
fattening red carp
tourists throw chunks of white bread,
watch feeding frenzy
hard to distinguish
whistles of exotic birds
from those of vendors
plantive peacock cry
like a wounded animal
in cry of distress
which more beautiful?
song dynasty lake gardens
or chinese women
like peacock shaking
bus engine shudders and spits
attracts nearby bus
pen under pressure
finding inner composure
while people look on
while i sketch buddha
red-headed chinese beauty
peers at my drawing
fine young spring tea leaf
destined for super grade a
or, next year, grade b
renaissance paintings
as seen through cloudy smoke haze
of chinese restaurant
four a.m. thunder
awakes me in confusion
in high rise hotel
now, thunder outside.
all day long, misty smoggy.
the boat ride, like glass on clouds.
the tour guide, a metronome of ancient chinese facts.
the dishes of food that pass
before us in a steady succession :
purple eggplant wedges in spicy oil
bamboo shoots with pork pieces
watery spinach, watery soup
lachong (spicy hot sauce pepi orders)
deep fried meats with vegetables
pretty chinese waitresses who stand silently
behind our table,
weak beer.
the real history is now,
what china is moving into and towards,
at this hectic pace of modernization.
i sketch fantastic buddhas
carved in rock walls only by forsaking the
tour with the group - so i don't see part
of the temple with the largest buddha in china -
but i do get to feel the close
pressing attention of hundreds of inquisitive
chinese tourists who want to look over
my shoulder at my drawing,
so i sketch aqualine
noses and delicately curved eyebrows
and stare past the heads of those
who stand right in front of me to take
pictures of all their friends.
4/11/03 hangzhou
busy web cafe
hard to find a free machine
for me to do mail
local internet
mostly young chinese students
playing danger games
and smoking
hacking and spitting
city dwellers find refuge
on peaceful mountain
legions of hikers
out for theraputic walk
making throat noises
man presses green tea
in giant electric wok
hands turning brown
making bamboo fence
and practicing opera
at bottom of trail
drivers maneuver
according to the tempo
unique to china
unmistakable
bravado sounds of opera
in hangzhou forest
her limp handshake
surprising me as i crush
each of her fingers
barbara's haiku:
mysterious mist
water rippling, boat gliding
pagodas hidden
willow trees weeping
blooming peaches pink, rose,white
white peacocks display
solo/group kukai
drawing/writing/photography
jonathan machen
drawing/writing/photography
jonathan machen