—Poems by James Lee Jobe, Davis, CA
—Photos Courtesy of James Lee Jobe
—Photos Courtesy of James Lee Jobe
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Haibun, the Japanese form combining short prose and haiku, is a favorite of mine to read, especially those of Bashō in Japan three hundred years ago, and in the last couple of years I have worked on some of my own.
—James Lee Jobe
I live in the Sacramento Valley, it is tremendous, it goes on and on. Each of us here walks through the valley the same way, and yet each of us is different. A life is a life, yet no two are truly the same. And my life? In summer, I trust the morning dew, and in winter I trust the valley tule fog. I put my faith in the deer grass and manzanita, in the blue oak and the grey pine. I live in this valley, a part of it.
In summer, the dew—
In winter, the tule fog.
Listen now, the crows!
It’s mid-July in California’s huge central valley, and it’s hot. Well over 100 degrees. If you’re walking the sidewalks of downtown Davis, there is something in your favor; there are nine or ten places within a few blocks of each other to sip on an iced coffee in the air conditioning. In fact, there so many coffee houses that three are my favorites; a three-way tie.
A frosty cold drink
On a day as hot as Texas.
Yes, I eat the ice.
It is that time of the summer when the sunflowers in the field are looking down, away from the sun. A rare summer rain would lift them again. It happens to all of us. That man in the bathroom mirror, don’t I know him from somewhere? If so, he’s changed, like the sunflowers. Still, it’s good to see him there. Maybe he knows something that I can learn, perhaps something about rain.
Bending down I see
A million dewdrops, each one
Reflects my own face.
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Before they built the Berryessa dam, Putah Creek slipped along through the Vaca Hills like a lovely snake, from one low spot to the next lower spot, and then so on into the valley. Now, in the hills, the creek canyon is a big lake and everything below is changed. And by man, not by nature; or, since man is a part of nature, does that count?
This old creek moves slow
Below the huge dam they built—
My son's ashes drift.
It was not a night meant for sleeping. It was very late before the July heat of the day even began to cool down. Then I tried to go to bed too early, I wasn’t sleepy and ended reading Gary Snyder poems in bed for a couple of hours, then getting back up and watching part of some weird 1950s sit-com on TV, called I Married Joan. It was awful and I fell asleep in the chair. This was followed by troublesome dreams, an adventure I just couldn't work out. I have a pet conure, a noisy pet, and he woke me prior to sunrise, screeching for fresh food and for his cage to be uncovered. This is where things turned around for me. It was beautiful and cool as the sun came up. It might be 100 degrees later, but now, getting into my coffee and breakfast, it is 65 and cool. A lovely day begins in Davis, California.
Dawn, perfect and cool.
And for my breakfast? Peaches
Picked fresh from my tree!
I was recovering from a bad bout with vertigo, and for the first time in days I was outside having a walk by myself. It was a beautiful summer day here in the valley and I was walking across the UC Davis campus, something I have done many times over twenty years. I had water and a walking stick. A shady hat. So, of course I got lost; my sense of direction was a joke. The short walk which would have been good for me became a hellish staggering journey. A fool wandering the Sahara. Until I finally remembered that my phone has GPS. I rested until a valley oak for an hour, drinking water and reading the Diamond Sutra. Then I found my way to a nearby bus stop and went home.
Exhausted, resting
Under an oak, above me
All eternity.
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Today’s LittleNip:
The mind is a Trickster, fools us, but the breath
Is always true. Which one will you follow?
—James Lee Jobe
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Thank you, James, for today’s poems and photos! On yesterday’s post, Carol Louise Moon talked about the haibun poetry form, and James Lee Jobe has served us some fine examples of this form here in the Kitchen this morning.
It’s a busy day in NorCal poetry today! Sierra Writes’ Conference will take place in Grass Valley from 9:15am-4:15pm; Writers on the Air will meet at Sac. Poetry Center from 9:30am-1pm; Poetic License will meet in Placerville at the Sr. Center from 2-4pm; and Women’s Wisdom Art will present Poetry, Prose & Art at the Brazilian Center, 2420 N St., Sac. Scroll down to the blue column (under the green column at the right) for info about these and other upcoming poetry events in our area—and note that more may be added at the last minute.
—Medusa (Celebrate Poetry!)
—Anonymous Wooden Panel, Buddha's Face
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