such a perfect flower has no shadow, said Princess Haiku

a bright flower bursts through morning fog, said Princess Haiku

adoration of a white flower, said Princess Haiku

New York Botanical Gardens KIKU (Chrysanthemum) Show 11-04-09

Tchaikowsky - Swan Lake - Rudolf Nureyev - Margot Fonteyn

a flower of hours, said Princess Haiku

Sylvie Guillem, Icarus and extreme beauty of dance, said Princess Haiku

I am musing about the absolute beauty of dance and the sacrifice that it requires. In Sylvie Guillem's art we can imagine the dangerous flight of Icarus, beauty and the capability of the human spirit to soar.





Icarus
Son of Daedalus who dared to fly too near the sun on wings of feathers and wax. Daedalus had been imprisoned by King Minos of Crete within the walls of his own invention, the Labyrinth. But the great craftsman's genius would not suffer captivity. He made two pairs of wings by adhering feathers to a wooden frame with wax. Giving one pair to his son, he cautioned him that flying too near the sun would cause the wax to melt. But Icarus became ecstatic with the ability to fly and forgot his father's warning. The feathers came loose and Icarus plunged to his death in the sea.

How far to the edge of the human experience can artistic beauty go?


Sylvie Guillem
Diva. Rebel. Perfectionist. And the most dynamic dancer of her era. Tim Adams meets the radical ballerina.

from the Poetic Journal of Princess Haiku

Kuan Yin Temple is known for its spectacular garden of "long-legged harvest men" of the spider chrysanthemum.

I am susceptible to their strange and compelling allure.

They induce waking dreams

On one occasion, I was certain the chrysanthemum that I was looking at turned into the eye of Ameratsu; goddess of the sun. I saw myself in a strange future and landscape that I cannot begin to describe.

I asked myself, Princess Haiku, why did you see the goddess here in the chrysanthemum garden of Kuan Yin Temple rather than by the tiny Shinto Shrine next to the ancient ginkgo?

I had no answer.
Who can explain such things.

Kuan Yin Temple is located high in the hills outside Nara and is a one hour walk from my household. I follow a secret pathway that emerges from the farthest boundary of our estate. The path vanishes and reappears as mysteriously as fog and mist swallow the hillside and giant blackberries that grow in summer on brambles.

One must watch where one walks.

At the summit of the hills leading to the Temple a Tori gate of vermillion red opens its arms on the edge of a cliff, towards the vastness of the sky. From a far distance one can see glimpses of ocean.

Or is that just the glitter of azure sky, I wonder?

Princess Haiku, I ask myself, is the ocean a pool of frozen tears falling from the sky?

The Tori gate leads to ukiyo or the floating world. Here, the transcendent world of impermanence is so close that I can feel its cool touch on my forehead and eyes.

I close my eyes and extreme beauty enters my mind.

It is always different.

On one occasion there will be cool, drifting clouds with mother of pearl lining.

Or pherhaps briliant gold sun pierces the landscape.

It is always a wonder.

I stop for a moment, bow my head and clap two times to acknowledge the nature spirits before I continue.


What strange fate awaits as I pursue my karma?
You must follow along as my tale must be entered.