Creative Writing
Fly, Children, Fly
by D Shapiro (Bali 1982)
Let’s dream of rice paddies and pagodas
and feel our bodies and eyes
Reaching deeper inside than we could ever allow
creating, in fear and joy, unguessed wonders.
The Last Harbor
THE LAST HARBOR
A Novella
Deane H. Shapiro, Jr
“Evocative and intelligent,”* this novella, written when the author was 23, takes place on a day celebrating an older couple’s 40th anniversary. It describes the man, as he prepares to give his final lecture on the wisdom of Zen study and practice that evening; the woman as she prepares for their afternoon tea ceremony, and their time alone and apart throughout the day as they reminisce about their life, their hopes, the challenges they have and do face, and the sparks of love between them.
* Michael Curtis, reviewing the submission for the Atlantic Monthly,
Johanna comments: Really well-written, cohesive novella, sometimes painful and sometimes surprisingly touching –like life! It reads partly like an exquisite haiku and partly like a Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf vicious free-for-all disturbing efforts toward Zen-like calmness wisdom.. It portrays an elderly couple’s attempt to bridge the gaps that have arisen between them and the real love they still share.
Daddy get it (and other children/grandchildren poems)
by D Shapiro
THE PEACH TREE (3/7/07)
From gnarled twisted limbs
After winter’s harsh cold rain. . .
Soft, fresh pink blossoms
The Finger
by D Shapiro
Little pudgy hand
wrapped around my finger
holding me near for comfort and solace
those accepting eyes
Fleeting Passage (1974, 2022 comment)
by D Shapiro
Hi Precious Gang, (July, 2022)
I found a poem I wrote from 1974 while changing Shauna’s diapers (actually probably not while changing them, but afterwards, reflecting on it!) For those who have done it, you’ll get it; for those who will one day do it (Hi James, Liam, Nate, Jackson, and yes, even Skyla and Weston!) you’ll see:
Hands awkwardly fumble
to capture a moment of the
fleeting passage
Aw meaning on so many levels (sunrise, sunset, swiftly go the years….!:)
From, In and Toward Light
by the Shapiro Family – linked verse – Deane, Johanna, Jena, Josh, Shauna – published in The Laguna Beach Anthology of Poetry & Short Fiction
Linked verse in linked family: Johanna and Deane traveled for a year in Asia, including time at the Zen Daitokuji monastery in Kyoto, and a Chan monastery in Taroko Gorge, Taiwan after they married (ah, just celebrated their 48th anniversary!). During that time, they wrote a small book of poetry, including haiku. They noted that “It was wonderful to reconnect to that part of ourselves again, and to invite our (now adult) children Shauna, Jena, Josh (all of whom grew up in Laguna, attending Top of the World, Thurston, and Laguna Beach High School) to join us. We joke linked verse and linked family in love and poetry.”
Monk in a hurry
walks right past Enlightenment
Too bad he missed it
POEMS YET TO EMERGE:
One good thing sent to family, Shabbat, 12/13/13
Dear Precious Family,
On Sunday’s I talk a slow walk around Dana Point Harbor (maybe 15 minutes). So many potential “poems” pass me on this walk: it’s like humanity at its best
*two kids, one 7, Asian rounded face a little chubby; bright eyes with her brother, 4; tag you’re it; giggles, each barely moves, now tag you’re it, more giggles and then they go running around a bench;
*bird man; a guy just sitting and feeding the birds
*people walking– old ones, young ones families; birds in water; humanity at its best, just enjoying itself
–and me old, an man reflected in window, slowly walking just bathing myself in their joy interactions, a kaleidoscope of shapes, colors….very happy moment….
love love, poppers of filled with poems felt but not yet written
J comment: what a lovely image of people as poems walking by you! That’s really beautiful. All the specific images are so sweet as well, and I love your summing up: “humanity at its best, just enjoying itself”. This is great. You are indeed filled with poems, you ARE a poem. I so respect your appreciation of these wonderful moments. Love, J
Father’s Day Haiku
by D Shapiro
Dear Precious Children, I received a package a month ago for father’s day with a question on the envelope about my self control: Could I not open it for a month? Are you kidding–asking me, the master of self control!)&#(*$
In the package was a haiku: