February 17, 2025


Haiku Utterances
by Marie Bortolotto

300 Zen-Inspired One-Line Haiku to Quiet the Mind
and Liberate the Imaginal Heart.

Available on Amazon


In this book by artist and poet Marie Bortolotto, we're invited to slow down and attune to the poetic utterances living at the heart of existence. Dropping the rules of traditional Japanese haiku, she writes in a free verse style that reflects ordinary day-to-day experiences. Most of the poems in this collection were gathered during daily walks while she was recovering from a lengthy illness. At first one may consider them too simplistic or insignificant, but once they seep into our hearts our eyes can see a depth of beauty found in the present moment.

Haiku Utterances
encourages us to cultivate an imaginal way of seeing by listening to the poetic utterances in our own lives.


A few excerpts from Haiku Utterances:


   pinned to the sidewalk white paper butterfly

have you stopped to say hello little sparrow


fragrance of emptiness in her hand a tiny flower

all frogs on the tree stump gone! except one


Paperback, 110 pages

February 4, 2025



"Follow your inner moonlight.
Don't hide the madness."

~ Allen Ginsberg, American Poet & Writer 1926 - 1997

Marie Bortolotto Art


January 24, 2025

 

"At this moment, only does my life exist."

- Dōgen Zenji, Zen Buddhist monk, writer, poet, philosopher,
and founder of the Sōtō school of Zen in Japan.



January 7, 2025


Marie Bortolotto 2025

      Short Verses
by Marie Bortolotto 2025



long way home

just to see

 the snowy mountains

Marie Bortolotto Art 2025

January 5, 2025

    Short Verses
by Marie Bortolotto 2025


no words

no thoughts, no one
--
bird chatter

January 3, 2025

  Short Verse
by Marie Bortolotto 2025



even in a hard cold rain
black cat runs to greet me


January 1, 2025

   Short Verses
by Marie Bortolotto 2025


I.

new year's morning

only the crows and i
walk about




II.


misty mountain

a buddha sits
facing traffic


Marie Bortolotto Art

December 31, 2024

  Short Verse
by Marie Bortolotto 2024



slower and slower
a woman walks
facing traffic



December 30, 2024

 Short Verse
by Marie Bortolotto 2024



neon Santa
no one pays attention
now

December 28, 2024

Short Verse
by Marie Bortolotto 2024



selling God
in the park, listening
to bird chatter

December 25, 2024


Christmas Day Haiku

by Marie Bortolotto 2024


shouting above the traffic noise an orange poppy

 

Marie Bortolotto Art

 



Howl Of Aliveness

by Marie Bortolotto 2024

in the morning
I open the door
go out, threadbare
into a raging wind

how to be alive?
no phone, no screens
no things that steal
the heart's affections

at the big park
a crow's caw
black squirrels whirl
in widening circles

above, a gull's cry
all the roses silent
beneath the weight
of winter's sleep

no wild animals, only
solemn remembrance
listening, the green, green
howl of aliveness


Marie Bortolotto Art

December 23, 2024


    Short Verses
by Marie Bortolotto 2024


January! chrysanthemums at Avalokiteśvara's feet


Marie Bortolotto Art

December 21, 2024


Why Do You Write Poems?

by Nanao Sakaki, (1923-2008) Japanese wandering poet

Because my stomach is empty,
Because my throat's itching,

Because my bellybutton's laughing,
Because my heart is love burning.

Marie Bortolotto Art

 

    Short Verses
by Marie Bortolotto 2024


I.

winter solstice
only the shakuhachi
offers comfort



Mukaiji reibo (Shakuhachi: Goro Yamaguchi - 山口 五郎)

December 19, 2024

 

 

    Short Verses
by Marie Bortolotto 2024



no fish today buddha sits facing traffic


Marie Bortolotto Art


December 18, 2024

 

    Short Verses
by Marie Bortolotto 2024




today's mantra
thank you thank you thank you




December 16, 2024

 

    Short Verses
by Marie Bortolotto 2024


I.

construction
everywhere
seeking peace



II.

walking, slowly
unravelling thoughts
in my skull


December 15, 2024



1

Happiness in the Morning
by Wen-siang, Chinese refugee poet, 1210
from Sleepless Nights:Verses for the Wakeful
translated by Thomas Cleary

Happy in the morning,
I open my cottage door;
A clear breeze blowing
comes straight in.
The first sun
lights the leafy trees;
the shadows it casts
are crystal clear.
Serene,
in accord with my heart,
Everything merges
in one harmony.
Gain and loss
are not my concern;
this way is enough
to the end of my day



2

Free People

The universe has free people
whom nothing whatever concerns.
Controlling their thoughts,
they stop all illusions
to find one whole reality.
Having forgotten all about glory,
how could they worry about disgrace?
Since they have no riches at all,
how could they dislike poverty?
Although you may say
the green mountains are fine,
Still know they are objects outside.



December 12, 2024

 

    Short Verses
by Marie Bortolotto 2024


needing hugs the black cat runs to greet me


December 11, 2024

 

    Short Verses
by Marie Bortolotto 2024


I.


in and out of time
losing the rhythm
finding the way




II.


a sprig of cedar
smelling the greenness
of now

Marie Bortolotto