Marie Bortolotto Art 2024

 

    Short Verses
by Marie Bortolotto 2024

January! chrysanthemums at Avalokiteśvara's feet

Marie Bortolotto Art

Leaving the Table by Leonard Cohen

 
Leonard Cohen on Finding His Voice

Marie Bortolotto Ink Drawing "Untitled" 2024

 

 

Marie Bortolotto Ink Drawing "Seeds of Awakening" 2024

Shakuhachi by Nishimura

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)

 

 

    Short Verses
by Marie Bortolotto 2024

no fish today buddha sits facing traffic

Marie Bortolotto Art

 

    Short Verses
by Marie Bortolotto 2024

today's mantra thank you thank you thank you

 

    Short Verses
by Marie Bortolotto 2024

I.

construction
everywhere
seeking peace



II.

walking, slowly
unravelling thoughts
in my skull

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.

 

    Short Verses
by Marie Bortolotto 2024

needing hugs the black cat runs to greet me

 

    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

  Short Verses
by Marie Bortolotto 2024


I.

walking slower
and deeper
into aliveness

Marie Bortolotto Art

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 Short Verses
by Marie Bortolotto 2024


I.

the old apple tree
under twilight's spell, twinkling
with festive lights

Marie Bortolotto Art

 

 Short Verses
by Marie Bortolotto 2024

I.

December morning
a dormant rosebush bears
only dewdrops

II. 

 

no longer flying
here and there, a sparrow
finds refuge on a branch

Marie Bortolotto Art

 
Short Verses
by Marie Bortolotto 2024

I.

are you a friend?
the golden-eyed cat
comes out to play

 
Short Verse

and ascribed to Basho...

For one who says,
"I am tired of children,"

there are no blossoms.


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Marie Bortolotto

 Short Verse
by Marie Bortolotto 2024

the end
of the day
what remains?



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The Door
by Miroslav Holub
 

Go and open the door.
Maybe outside there’s
a tree, or a wood,
a garden,
or a magic city.

Go and open the door.
Maybe a dog’s rummaging.
Maybe you’ll see a face,
or an eye,
or the picture
of a picture.

Go and open the door.
If there’s a fog
it will clear.

Go and open the door.
Even if there’s only
the darkness ticking,
even if there’s only
the hollow wind,
even if
nothing
is there,
go and open the door.

At least
there’ll be
a draught.

 Short Verse
by Marie Bortolotto 2024

morning meditation
sweeping away
 dead leaves

Marie Bortolotto Art

 
Short Verse
by Marie Bortolotto 2024

1

all the leaves are gone
the traveller ponders
arrivals and departures


2


surprise!
the mute panhandler
unleashes his voice

Short Verse
by Marie Bortolotto 2024

ray of sunshine
the little girl opens
a yellow umbrella

poetry in the wordless

Short Verse
by Marie Bortolotto 2024

vacant home
poetry hides from
shuttered eyes

 

 

Poetic Sketches
by Marie Bortolotto 2024

1

after the storm
raindrops fall from
the weeping willow




2

pigeons on the wire
trying in my way
to be free



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Leonard Cohen, Bless you for all the poetic
utterances you left behind for us to hear!

Poetic Sketches
by Marie Bortolotto 2024

I.

children
out for a walk
lots of laughs



II.

the way home
only the traveller
meets children

and by Basho...

 

 

The moon and sun are travellers through eternity. Even the years wander on.
Whether drifting through life on a boat or climbing toward old age leading a horse,
each day is a journey and the journey itself is home.

Poetic Sketch
by Marie Bortolotto 2024

 

tin porch bells
only the traveller hears
a symphony of goats

A symphony of goats!


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Poetic Utterances
by Marie Bortolotto 2024

Visit "Imaginal Utterances Website"

I.

where are the cats?
a pussy willow sprouts
new buds



II.

no more gloom
a snowy mountain peak
rises above