From the Bible, contributed by Alan and Deidre Scott of Chicago.

Here in Boston (and in many other places I imagine) we are hoping for more rain, as it has been a
dry winter. But let us celebrate Spring, whether it is rainy or sunny, with flowers and trees in
bloom (Mother’s Day is "Lilac Sunday" at the Arboretum). For some, Spring means starting to
work and play outside more. For those of us who used to folk-dance in Racine (and some still do)
and for the children and families of Waldorf schools around the country, Spring means dancing
around the May Pole and watching the age-old skit of "Lady Spring" chase away "King Winter".
However you celebrate spring, may it be bring you much joy.

Another way to celebrate Spring is to read and write poems, so here goes.... Some of the poetry
you will find included is by yours truly (and may be familiar to some of you, as I am using poems
form the past...) and some are by friends and others are by favorite well known poets. If you miss
your favorite poem or want to publish one you have written, consider sending it to me for a future
Turtle Journal Poetry issue! Enjoy!

Buddha sits
big belly, green heart
laughing, from ear to ear

The poems on this page are by a dear friend, Barbara Collignon. She and her husband and Marc live in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin. When we were all a lot younger, I remember one of my favorite things to do with
Barbara was to run along the beach of Lake Michigan, flying kites. Barbara recently sent me some of her
poems. Here are three of my favorites for celebrating Spring and to take us into Summer:

It’s nine p.m. and the pitch hasn’t set in quite.
As the low, indistinct shadows hang looming,
I come rolling down the hill
And meet dead on ORANGE FIRE
As big as a house, alarming and ALIVE.

SELENE, luminescent in the sky,
Sets ABLAZE Jamaica Pond (ere this dazing, My Cooling Comfort)
And trumpets Her dispatch,
As I stand bemused, ‘twixt real and surreal.

                    O Sacred Orb, Queen of the Night,
                    Full of splendor and delight,
                    Puffed-up in a rage, You charge:
                    "Hail the Harvest; Gather and Behold!"

                    You light my way back to then and NOW
                    You fill me with awesome fright,
                    Finally, You tickle me inside,
                    Fooling me with Your April Gold.

Following, are a few poems from two Japanese Masters, translated and edited by Robert Hass, from a book
called "The Essential Haiku", (Ecco Press). The first are by Yosa Buson (1716-1783), who was a master
painter as well as calligrapher/poet. These first three verses (out of eighteen) are excerpts from a longer
poem, which he describes his journey along the Yodo River on a day when he met a young woman.

Matsuo Basho (16644-1694) was known to have reinvented the forms of Japanese poetry during his
lifetime. He studied the great Chinese Masters and brought more depth and seriousness to his new and
transformed art. Here are some samples of his lyric Haiku. The last three are from Buson again. Because
of the translations, these Haiku do not follow the strict seventeen-syllable form with which you may be familiar.

        Escaped the nets,
escaped the ropes-
        moon on the water.

Calligraphy of geese
    against the sky-
        the moon seals it.

Most Poetry should be read aloud and indeed it has been a very gratifying experience for
Ginny and me to be part of poetry readings with other students and admirers of poetry
of all ages and to read aloud to each other. On the next pages are a few of our most
beloved poems to be read aloud. For lack of space I cannot publish the many, many more that we adore!