Edgar Allan Poe "A Dream Within A Dream" Poem animation

Animation by Jim Clark

Japanese Death Poems

Japanese death poems were written by a person as close to the moment of death as possible. Ideally, as they finished and put down the ink brush, they would exhale their last breath and die before the ink was dry.

Seems that most were written by monks, priests, noblemen, and other well educated members of Japan's history. They reflect on what it means to live and die, and their philosophy on both.
Some are beautiful and reflective, such as Koraku's

The joy of dewdrops
In the grass as they
Turn back to vapor.

Others display a wonderful humor about the inevitable, such as Morikawa Kyoriku's (1656 - 1715)

Till now I thought
that death befell
the untalented alone.
If those with talent, too,
   must die
surely they make
   a better manure?

My favorite so far is from Moriya Sen'an:

Bury me when I die
beneath a wine barrel
in a tavern.
With luck
the cask will leak.

 To read these and others go to the
Google Book search for Japanese Death Poems: Written by Zen Monks and Haiku Poets on the Verge of Death
By Yoel Hoffmann
Or better yet, support the guy and buy the book like I did!
Here's an easy link to Hoffmann's book on Amazon - ya cheap schmuck!

 

Enjoy Some Flea Market Photos - IV

This one deserves a post unto itself. I did not stage this; I innocently walked around the corner and there it was. Either someone has the same sick sense of humor that I do, other booth owner thought that might be a good way to keep dust out of the doll head's hair.

Typically a cloche (bell jar), covers garden plants planted in early spring from cold weather and surprise frosts. The first use of bell jars (in the West) is attributed to the French; ironically enough they are also well-known as doll makers.

Also the title of Sylvia Plath's only novel, the bell jar is the metaphor she uses to describe her mental illness. She is trapped in a bell jar and can't breath. Ironically, depriving herself of breathable air is how she finally committed suicide. She sealed up the kitchen with wet towels under the doors and gassed herself in the open oven.

I shall name this doll head, Sylvia Lackabottom. Say hello, Sylvia.
"Mmph, emphy bodmphy...."