Tag Archives: trees

NEW RECRUITS TO THE GUARDROOM

Posted on January 11, 2022 by Universal Octopus

On Tuesday after a silenceof three months,suddenly,where the junglethrows evening shadows over the bougainvilleas,all the cicadas shouted out at once;stretching and releasing their tymbalslike the shimmering and vibratingof a thousand silver cymbals. No notices were posted on the trees.No announcements … Continue reading →

Posted in Bamboo Leaves | Tagged Brian Taylor, cicadas, diaries, Jungle, march, recruits, sergeant major, silence, silver cymbals, single silent drum, trees | Leave a comment

LISTEN

Posted on August 9, 2021 by Universal Octopus

What is that sound?Like the trailing of a fanthrough a silent anteroom? It is the murmur of airruffling leaves. It is the herald of the whirlwindwhich will strip those leaves from their treesand wrench the trees from the hillsideand blast … Continue reading →

Posted in Blondin | Tagged baby, Blondin, dark gods, destruction, Dog, eternity, Italian garden, laughter, nursery, pearls, silence, skeleton, skull, smile, soldiers, sound, trees | Leave a comment

MEO

Posted on June 28, 2020 by Universal Octopus

He has dirty feet;“Washing is dangerouswash much, sicken and die.”He wears a short black jacketand floppy black trousers.A large silver lock hangs round his neck.She has a blue jacketand a tightly pleated kiltof hemp and cottonwith heavily embroideredand weighted black … Continue reading →

Posted in Bamboo Leaves | Tagged Bamboo Leaves, bribes, British, Burma, cash crops, Chinese, cotton, hemp, hill tribes, Jungle, maize, missionaries, opium, poor, smiles, tax, Thai, tourists, trees | Leave a comment

GETTING INTO HOT WATER

Posted on May 16, 2020 by Universal Octopus

The forest is dense and undisturbed,the trees high and overshading,the birdsong harsh and shrill,the giant cicadas persistentlike throbbing brass. Paths have been clearedand wooden bridges laidover a latticework of hot yellow streams.These infiltrate the vegetationand send up clouds of steam. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bamboo Leaves | Tagged Bamboo Leaves, birdsong, butterflies, cicadas, forest, heat, jacuzzi, minerals, steam, trees, waterfalls, wooden bridges, yellow streams | Leave a comment

TWO TREES

Posted on February 23, 2020 by Universal Octopus

Khun’s house stands impermanentlyby a large and ancient Bodhi tree.This has lent him its shadesince the house was first madeand has spread its branches comfortably.Under such a tree was Buddha enlightened.Hundreds of birds come hereto nest,to rest,to watch the night … Continue reading →

Posted in Bamboo Leaves | Tagged Bamboo Leaves, banyan tree, birds, Bodhi tree, Buddha, Council, Deva, flu, Medium, Spirit House, temple, Thailand, trees | Leave a comment

DATTA

Posted on December 18, 2019 by Universal Octopus

In the snow forests of Himavāna,Lake Anodāta simmers like a jewelamong green-black trees,slumbers in the scent of jasmine.Its snow-born waters are deep-blue cool,its silence deeper even than the snowsuntil gik-gak gik-gak gik-gak is heardas Gunaras and Gunarees,gold of skin, half-human … Continue reading →