09 March 2013

Origami Memories



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

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

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  3. The 1st one is my favorite !!!

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  4. 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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  5. 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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  6. Love how the haiku enter into the process of creating origami and touch on the purpose! Lovely!

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

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

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  9. The last one with the rhyme I love the best!

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

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  11. A very touching tradition. Wonderfully written haiku.

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

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