09 March 2013

Origami Memories

Memorial in Peace Park of Nagasaki


Sorting such still sheets
(silky, flexible squareness)
calms both hands and jaw.

Eyes spring back and forth
lightly between instructions
and fingered paper.

Fold, crease, white and bright
colored cranes in chains delight
pray for peace each night



File:US Navy 070718-N-0807W-049 Students from Jack N. Darby Elementary School learn and construct Japanese origami cranes from a U.S. Navy Sailor as a symbolic gesture toward peace in Sasebo, Japan.jpg
SASEBO, Japan (July 18, 2007) - Students from Jack N. Darby Elementary School learn and construct Japanese origami cranes from a U.S. Navy Sailor as a symbolic gesture toward peace in Sasebo, Japan. The cranes are part of a larger effort to make 1,000 cranes, which Japanese culture has defined as a milestone number in expressing sentiments of peace and good fortune.  U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua J. Wahl 



 Posted for Haiku Heights #212 - Origami.  Here are alternate last lines, imagined after reading comments:"fold Peace in the Light" and "Pray for Peace inCrease."  

 Copyright © 2013 S.L.Chast




15 comments:

  1. Unknown3/09/2013 12:15 PM

    Each fold a prayer

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  2. Sherry Blue Sky3/09/2013 12:36 PM

    I love the poem - and, especially, Stephen's comment: "each fold a prayer." Yes. Lovely, Susan.

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  3. Scarlet3/09/2013 1:39 PM

    I like the simple yet meaningful folds of sentiments ~ I am joining you in the prayer for peace each night ~

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  4. Amrit Sinha3/09/2013 2:08 PM

    The 1st one is my favorite !!!

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  5. Claudia3/09/2013 2:32 PM

    I've heard about the cranes before and find it such a great and palpable tradition..really cool..each fold a prayer..yes, love this as well..

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  6. Brian Miller3/09/2013 2:34 PM

    its not that easy to pull off....i took origami classes when i was young...was pretty cool...i remember a little bit....its pretty cool what people are able to do with a piece of paper....

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  7. Gemma Wiseman3/09/2013 2:59 PM

    Love how the haiku enter into the process of creating origami and touch on the purpose! Lovely!

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  8. Sri Valli3/10/2013 6:01 AM

    Beautiful set Susan! The last one is my favorite :)

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  9. ND Mitchell3/10/2013 4:20 PM

    I also like these and especially the internal rhyme in the third, which finishes them off with great momentum :)

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  10. Maude Lynn3/10/2013 4:57 PM

    Beautifully done, Susan!

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  11. Judith Westerfield3/10/2013 6:30 PM

    The last one with the rhyme I love the best!

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  12. Victoria3/10/2013 11:01 PM

    This is so beautiful...the process and the poem, so Zen-like.

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  13. Reading Pleasure3/11/2013 8:05 AM

    A very touching tradition. Wonderfully written haiku.

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  14. Anonymous3/13/2013 8:58 PM

    I like this very much! It is a wonderful tradition.

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