A Thousand Cranes (Matazo Kayama)

Matazo Kayama (1927-2004) A Thousand Cranes, 1970, a pair of six-fold silk screens, 1.6 x 3.7m each. From The Animalarium

What 'never' changes

Image source here

1000 paper cranes

It came across as quite a surprise to some and few found it odd too perhaps, the way I started counting cranes all of a sudden earlier today. 

This is not the least bit odd to me.

I have sat down cross-legged on the floor, in the middle of hundreds of colourful sheets of perfectly square Origami paper with three dear friends, making paper cranes that they would then take back with them to offer at their shrine in Japan. 

It's a peace thing. It's a goodwill and well-wishing thing. It's a faith thing.

I don't have a band of paper crane makers; figured counting them with good intent perhaps might suffice.

So here, I plan to (non-invasive-ly) count down to 1000 thousand paper cranes, no cut-copy-paste, keying each letter/ alphabet/ number out one at a time, for as long as it takes to complete the count.

It won't change anything (in this world). But heck, when was the last time anyone could put a reason to the things that I do?

Well, here we go with the counting.

-

1000 cranes, 999 cranes, 998 cranes, 997 cranes, 996 cranes, 995 cranes, 994 cranes, 993 cranes, 992 cranes, 991 cranes, 990 cranes, 989 cranes, 988 cranes, 987 cranes, 986 cranes, 985 cranes, 984 cranes, 983 cranes, 982 cranes, 981 cranes, 980 cranes, 979 cranes, 978 cranes, 977 cranes, 976 cranes, 975 cranes, 974 cranes, 973 cranes, 972 cranes, 971 cranes, 970 cranes, 969 cranes, 968 cranes, 967 cranes, 966 cranes, 965 cranes, 964 cranes, 963 cranes, 962 cranes, 961 cranes, 960 cranes, 959 cranes, 958 cranes, 957 cranes, 956 cranes, 955 cranes, 954 cranes, 953 cranes, 952 cranes, 951 cranes, 950 cranes, 949 cranes, 948 cranes, 947 cranes, 946 cranes, 945 cranes, 944 cranes, 943 cranes, 942 cranes, 941 cranes, 940 cranes, 939 cranes, 929 cranes, 928 cranes, 927 cranes, 926 cranes, 925 cranes, 924 cranes, 923 cranes, 922 cranes, 920 cranes, 919 cranes, 918 cranes, 917 cranes, 916 cranes, 915 cranes, 914 cranes, 913 cranes, 912 cranes, 911 cranes, 910 cranes, 909 cranes, 908 cranes, 907 cranes, 906 cranes, 905 cranes, 904 cranes, 903 cranes, 902 cranes, 901 cranes, 900 cranes.

899 cranes, 898 cranes, 897 cranes, 896 cranes, 895 cranes, 894 cranes, 893 cranes, 892 cranes, 891 cranes, 890 cranes, 889 cranes, 888 cranes, 887 cranes, 886 cranes, 885 cranes, 884 cranes, 883 cranes, 882 cranes, 881 cranes, 880 cranes, 879 cranes, 878 cranes, 877 cranes, 876 cranes, 875 cranes, 874 cranes, 873 cranes, 872 cranes, 871 cranes, 870 cranes, 869 cranes, 868 cranes, 867 cranes, 866 cranes, 865 cranes, 864 cranes, 863 cranes, 862 cranes, 861 cranes, 860 cranes, 859 cranes, 858 cranes, 857 cranes, 856 cranes, 855 cranes, 854 cranes, 853 cranes, 852 cranes, 851 cranes, 850 cranes, 849 cranes, 848 cranes, 847 cranes, 846 cranes, 845 cranes, 844 cranes, 843 cranes, 842 cranes, 841 cranes, 840 cranes, 839 cranes, 838 cranes, 837 cranes, 836 cranes, 835 cranes, 834 cranes, 833 cranes, 832 cranes, 831 cranes, 830 cranes, 829 cranes, 828 cranes, 827 cranes, 826 cranes, 825 cranes, 824 cranes, 823 cranes, 822 cranes, 821 cranes, 820 cranes, 819 cranes, 818 cranes, 817 cranes, 816 cranes, 815 cranes, 814 cranes, 813 cranes, 812 cranes, 811 cranes, 810 cranes, 809 cranes, 808 cranes, 807 cranes, 806 cranes, 805 cranes, 804 cranes, 803 cranes, 802 cranes, 801 cranes, 800 cranes.

799 cranes, 798 cranes, 797 cranes, 796 cranes, 795 cranes, 794 cranes, 793 cranes, 792 cranes, 791 cranes, 790 cranes, 789 cranes, 788 cranes, 787 cranes,  786 cranes, 785 cranes, 784 cranes, 783 cranes, 782 cranes, 781 cranes, 780 cranes, 779 cranes, 778 cranes, 777 cranes, 776 cranes, 775 cranes, 774 cranes, 773 cranes, 772 cranes, 771 cranes, 770 cranes, 769 cranes, 768 cranes, 767 cranes, 766 cranes, 765 cranes, 764 cranes, 763 cranes, 762 cranes, 761 cranes, 760 cranes, 759 cranes, 758 cranes, 757 cranes, 756 cranes, 755 cranes, 754 cranes, 753 cranes, 752 cranes, 751 cranes, 750 cranes, 749 cranes, 748 cranes, 747 cranes, 746 cranes, 745 cranes, 744 cranes, 743 cranes, 742 cranes, 741 cranes, 740 cranes, 739 cranes, 738 cranes, 737 cranes, 736 cranes, 735 cranes, 734 cranes, 733 cranes, 732 cranes, 731 cranes, 730 cranes, 729 cranes, 728 cranes, 727 cranes, 726 cranes, 725 cranes, 724 cranes, 723 cranes, 722 cranes, 721 cranes, 720 cranes, 719 cranes, 718 cranes, 717 cranes, 716 cranes, 715 cranes, 714 cranes, 713 cranes, 712 cranes, 711 cranes, 710 cranes, 709 cranes, 708 cranes, 707 cranes, 706 cranes, 705 cranes, 704 cranes, 703 cranes, 702 cranes, 701 cranes, 700 cranes.

699 cranes, 698 cranes, 697 cranes, 696 cranes, 695 cranes, 694 cranes, 693 cranes, 692 cranes, 691 cranes, 690 cranes, 689 cranes, 688 cranes, 687 cranes, 686 cranes, 685 cranes, 684 cranes, 683 cranes, 682 cranes, 681 cranes, 680 cranes, 679 cranes, 678 cranes, 677 cranes, 676 cranes, 675 cranes, 674 cranes, 673 cranes, 672 cranes, 671 cranes, 670 cranes, 669 cranes, 668 cranes, 667 cranes, 666 cranes, 665 cranes, 664 cranes, 663 cranes, 662 cranes, 661 cranes, 660 cranes, 659 cranes, 658 cranes, 657 cranes, 656 cranes, 655 cranes, 654 cranes, 653 cranes, 652 cranes, 651 cranes, 650 cranes, 549 cranes, 648 cranes, 647 cranes, 646 cranes, 645 cranes, 644 cranes, 643 cranes, 642 cranes, 641 cranes, 640 cranes, 639 cranes, 638 cranes, 637 cranes, 636 cranes, 635 cranes, 634 cranes, 633 cranes, 632 cranes, 631 cranes, 630 cranes, 629 cranes, 628 cranes, 627 cranes, 626 cranes, 625 cranes, 624 cranes, 623 cranes, 622 cranes, 621 cranes, 620 cranes, 619 cranes, 618 cranes, 617 cranes, 616 cranes, 615 cranes, 614 cranes, 613 cranes, 612 cranes, 611 cranes, 610 cranes, 609 cranes, 608 cranes, 607 cranes, 606 cranes, 605 cranes, 604 cranes, 603 cranes, 602 cranes, 601 cranes, 600 cranes.

599 cranes, 598 cranes, 597 cranes, 596 cranes, 595 cranes, 594 cranes, 593 cranes, 592 cranes, 591 cranes, 590 cranes, 589 cranes, 588 cranes, 587 cranes, 586 cranes, 585 cranes, 584 cranes, 583 cranes, 582 cranes, 581 cranes, 580 cranes, 579 cranes, 578 cranes, 577 cranes, 576 cranes, 575 cranes, 574 cranes, 573 cranes, 572 cranes, 571 cranes, 570 cranes, 569 cranes, 568 cranes, 567 cranes, 566 cranes, 565 cranes, 564 cranes, 563 cranes, 562 cranes, 561 cranes, 560 cranes, 559 cranes, 558 cranes, 557 cranes, 556 cranes, 555 cranes, 554 cranes, 553 cranes, 552 cranes, 551 cranes, 550 cranes, 549 cranes, 548 cranes, 547 cranes, 546 cranes, 545 cranes, 543 cranes, 542 cranes, 541 cranes, 540 cranes, 539 cranes, 538 cranes, 537 cranes, 536 cranes, 535 cranes, 534 cranes, 533 cranes, 532 cranes, 531 cranes, 530 cranes, 529 cranes, 528 cranes, 527 cranes, 526 cranes, 525 cranes, 524 cranes, 523 cranes, 522 cranes, 521 cranes, 520 cranes, 519 cranes, 518 cranes, 517 cranes, 516 cranes, 515 cranes, 514 cranes, 513 cranes, 512 cranes, 511 cranes, 510 cranes, 509 cranes, 508 cranes, 507 cranes, 506 cranes, 505 cranes, 504 cranes, 503 cranes, 502cranes, 501 cranes, 500 cranes. 

499 cranes, 498 cranes, 497 cranes, 496 cranes, 495 cranes, 494 cranes, 493 cranes, 492 cranes, 491 cranes, 490 cranes, 489 cranes, 488 cranes, 487 cranes, 486 cranes, 485 cranes, 484 cranes, 483 cranes, 482 cranes, 481 cranes, 480 cranes, 479 cranes, 478 cranes, 477 cranes, 476 cranes, 475 cranes, 474 cranes, 473 cranes, 472 cranes, 471 cranes, 470 cranes, 469 cranes, 468 cranes, 467 cranes, 466 cranes, 465 cranes, 464 cranes, 463 cranes, 462 cranes, 461 cranes, 460 cranes, 459 cranes, 458 cranes, 457 cranes, 456 cranes, 455 cranes, 453 cranes, 452 cranes, 451 cranes, 450 cranes, 449 cranes, 448 cranes, 447 cranes, 446 cranes, 445 cranes, 444 cranes, 443 cranes, 442 cranes, 441 cranes, 440 cranes, 439 cranes, 438 cranes, 437 cranes, 436 cranes, 435 cranes, 434 cranes, 433 cranes, 432 cranes, 431 cranes, 430 cranes, 429 cranes, 428 cranes, 427 cranes, 426 cranes, 425 cranes, 424 cranes, 423 cranes, 422 cranes, 421 cranes, 420 cranes, 419 cranes, 418 cranes, 417 cranes, 416 cranes, 415 cranes, 414 cranes, 413 cranes, 412 cranes, 411 cranes, 410 cranes, 409 cranes, 408 cranes, 407 cranes, 406 cranes, 405 cranes, 404 cranes, 403 cranes, 402 cranes, 401 cranes, 400 cranes. 

399 cranes, 398 cranes, 397 cranes, 396 cranes, 395 cranes, 304 cranes, 393 cranes, 392 cranes, 391 cranes, 390 cranes, 389 cranes, 388 cranes, 387 cranes, 386 cranes, 385 cranes, 384 cranes, 382 cranes, 381 cranes, 380 cranes, 379 cranes, 378 cranes, 377 cranes, 378 cranes, 376 cranes, 375 cranes, 374 cranes, 373 cranes, 372 cranes, 371 cranes, 370 cranes, 369 cranes, 368 cranes, 367 cranes, 366 cranes, 365 cranes, 364 cranes, 363 cranes, 362 cranes, 361 cranes, 360 cranes, 359 cranes, 358 cranes, 357 cranes, 356 cranes, 355 cranes, 354 cranes, 353 cranes, 352 cranes, 351 cranes, 350 cranes, 349 cranes, 348 cranes, 347 cranes, 346 cranes, 345 cranes, 344 cranes, 343 cranes, 342 cranes, 341 cranes, 340 cranes, 339 cranes, 338 cranes, 337 cranes, 336 cranes, 335 cranes, 334 cranes, 333 cranes, 332 cranes, 331 cranes, 330 cranes, 329 cranes, 328 cranes, 327 cranes, 326 cranes, 325 cranes, 324 cranes, 323 cranes, 322 cranes, 321 cranes, 320 cranes, 319 cranes, 318 cranes, 317 cranes, 316 cranes, 315 cranes, 314 cranes, 313 cranes, 312 cranes, 311 cranes, 310 cranes, 309 cranes, 308 cranes, 307 cranes, 306 cranes, 305 cranes, 304 cranes, 303 cranes, 302 cranes, 301 cranes, 300 cranes. 

299 cranes, 298 cranes, 297 cranes, 296 cranes, 295 cranes, 294 cranes, 293 cranes, 292 cranes, 291 cranes, 290 cranes, 289 cranes, 288 cranes, 287 cranes, 286 cranes, 285 cranes, 284 cranes, 283 cranes, 282 cranes, 281 cranes, 280 cranes, 279 cranes, 278 cranes, 277 cranes, 276 cranes, 275 cranes, 274 cranes, 273 cranes, 272 cranes, 271 cranes, 270 cranes, 269 cranes, 268 cranes, 267 cranes, 266 cranes, 265 cranes, 264 cranes, 263 cranes, 262 cranes, 261 cranes, 260 cranes, 259 cranes, 258 cranes, 257 cranes, 256 cranes, 255 cranes, 254 cranes, 253 cranes, 252 cranes, 251 cranes, 250 cranes, 249 cranes, 248 cranes, 247 cranes, 246 cranes, 245 cranes, 244 cranes, 243 cranes, 242 cranes, 241 cranes, 240 cranes, 239 cranes, 238 cranes, 237 cranes, 238 cranes, 237 cranes, 236 cranes, 235 cranes, 234 cranes, 233 cranes, 232 cranes, 231 cranes, 230 cranes, 229 cranes, 228 cranes, 227 cranes, 226 cranes, 225 cranes, 224 cranes, 223 cranes, 222 cranes, 221 cranes, 220 cranes, 219 cranes, 218 cranes, 217 cranes, 216 cranes, 215 cranes, 214 cranes, 213 cranes, 212 cranes, 211 cranes, 210 cranes, 209 cranes, 208 cranes, 207 cranes, 206 cranes, 205 cranes, 204 cranes, 203 cranes, 202 cranes, 201 cranes, 200 cranes. 

199 cranes, 198 cranes, 197 cranes, 196 cranes, 195 cranes, 194 cranes, 193 cranes, 192 cranes, 191 cranes, 190 cranes, 189 cranes, 188 cranes, 187 cranes, 186 cranes, 185 crabes, 184 cranes, 183 cranes, 182 cranes, 181 cranes, 180 cranes, 179 cranes, 178 cranes, 177 cranes, 176 cranes, 175 cranes, 174 cranes, 173 cranes, 172 cranes,  171 cranes, 170 cranes, 169 cranes, 168 cranes, 167 cranes, 166 cranes, 165 cranes, 164 cranes, 163 cranes, 162 cranes, 161 cranes, 160 cranes, 159 cranes, 158 cranes, 157 cranes, 156 cranes, 155 cranes, 154 cranes, 153 cranes, 152 cranes, 151 cranes, 150 cranes, 149 cranes, 148 cranes, 147 cranes, 146 cranes, 145 cranes, 144 cranes, 143 cranes, 142 cranes, 141 cranes, 140 cranes, 139 cranesm, 138 cranes, 137 cranes, 136 cranes, 135 cranes, 134 cranes, 133 cranes, 132 cranes, 131 cranes, 130 cranes, 129 cranes, 128 cranes, 127 cranes, 126 cranes, 125 cranes, 124 cranes, 123 cranes, 122 cranes, 121 cranes, 120 cranes, 119 cranes, 118 cranes, 117 cranes, 116 cranes, 115 cranes, 114 cranes, 113 cranes,112 cranes, 111 cranes, 110 cranes, 109 cranes, 108 cranes, 107 cranes, 106 cranes, 105 cranes, 104 cranes, 103 cranes, 102 cranes, 101 cranes, 100 cranes. 

99 cranes, 98 cranes, 97 cranes, 96 cranes, 95 cranes, 94 cranes, 93 cranes, 92 cranes, 91 cranes, 90 cranes, 89 cranes, 88 cranes, 87 cranes, 86 cranes, 85 cranes, 84 cranes, 83 cranes, 82 cranes 81 cranes, 80 cranes, 79 cranes, 78 cranes, 77 cranes, 76 cranes, 75 cranes, 74 cranes, 73 cranes, 72 cranes, 71 cranes, 70 cranes, 69 cranes, 68 cranes, 67 cranes, 66 cranes, 65 cranes, 64 cranes, 63 cranes, 62 cranes, 61 cranes, 60 cranes, 59 cranes, 58 cranes, 57 cranes, 56 cranes, 55 cranes, 54 cranes, 53 cranes, 52 cranes, 51 cranes, 50 cranes, 49 cranes, 48 cranes, 47 cranes, 46 cranes, 45 cranes, 44 cranes, 43 cranes, 42 cranes, 41 cranes, 40 cranes, 39 cranes, 38 cranes, 37 cranes, 36 cranes, 35 cranes, 34 cranes, 33 cranes, 32 cranes, 31 cranes, 30 cranes, 29 cranes, 28 cranes, 27 cranes, 26 cranes, 25 cranes, 24 cranes, 23 cranes, 22 cranes, 21 cranes, 20 cranes, 19 cranes, 18 cranes, 17 cranes, 16 cranes, 15 cranes, 14 cranes, 13 cranes, 12 cranes, 11 cranes, 10 cranes, 9 cranes, 8 cranes, 7 cranes, 6 cranes, 5 cranes, 4 cranes, 3 cranes, 2 cranes, 1 crane. 

Image source here

The 'real' story behind 1000 paper cranes 

How to make an Origami paper crane 

Washington Crossing the Delaware (David Shulman)

A hard, howling, tossing water scene.
Strong tide was washing hero clean.
"How cold!" Weather stings as in anger.
O Silent night shows war ace danger!

The cold waters swashing on in rage.
Redcoats warn slow his hint engage.
When star general's action wish'd "Go!"
He saw his ragged continentals row.

Ah, he stands - sailor crew went going.
And so this general watches rowing.
He hastens - winter again grows cold.
A wet crew gain Hessian stronghold.

George can't lose war with's hands in;
He's astern - so go alight, crew, and win!

What's so special about this?  

PS:- Thank you MP!

 

Roll the dice (Charles Bukowski)

if you’re going to try, go all the
way.
otherwise, don’t even start.

if you’re going to try, go all the
way.
this could mean losing girlfriends,
wives, relatives, jobs and
maybe your mind.

go all the way.
it could mean not eating for 3 or 4 days.
it could mean freezing on a
park bench.
it could mean jail,
it could mean derision,
mockery,
isolation.
isolation is the gift,
all the others are a test of your
endurance, of
how much you really want to
do it.
and you’ll do it
despite rejection and the worst odds
and it will be better than
anything else
you can imagine.

if you’re going to try,
go all the way.
there is no other feeling like
that.
you will be alone with the gods
and the nights will flame with
fire.

do it, do it, do it.
do it.

all the way
all the way.

you will ride life straight to
perfect laughter, its
the only good fight
there is.

Time

In endless wait
to make things
happen
to strike off
from the scroll
things done
to make life
living.

(Penned Jan 12, 2011)

30 Extraordinary things happening right now

“Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” ~ Roald Dahl

1. A baby is taking its first few steps without falling.
2. Two people somewhere in the world, are falling in love.
3. Somewhere, someone is admiring a breathtaking sunrise, and somewhere else, a surreal sunset.
4. A soldier of sorts is diligently fighting the fight so you don’t have to
5. Someone who suffered from a severe injury last year is back on their feet.
6. A small group of people are building something that will soon make the impossible possible.
7. Somewhere on Earth a double rainbow is stretched from one end of the horizon to the other.
8. One of the next Billboard-chart-topping musical artists is patiently rehearsing in her garage.
9. A piece of literature is being written that will eventually change your perspective on life.
10. A friend is helping a friend rise above thoughts of suicide.
11. People of various religious backgrounds are in temples, churches, mosques and other places of worship praying, wholeheartedly, for world peace.
12. An elderly couple is celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.
13. Two best friends are laughing so hard that they aren’t even making any noise.
14. A firefighter is running into a burning building to rescue a perfect stranger.
15. Someone in your hometown genuinely wants to be your friend.
16. A new mom is lying in a hospital bed and holding her baby twins for the very first time.
17. Someone is taking a shower and singing happily at the top of their lungs.
18. There is someone out there who smiles when they think of a specific moment they once shared with you.
19. An alcoholic just celebrated one full year of sobriety.
20. Volunteers in major cities all over the world are working at homeless shelters caring for those who are less fortunate than themselves.
21. A high school athlete just broke their own personal record.
22. Two teenagers just received their very first kiss ever from each other.
23. Someone is hugging a friend who desperately needs it.
24. Someone just placed their spare change in the charity collection cup at the grocery store.
25. A small group of friends are sitting around a table sharing funny stories and cheerfully reminiscing about the good old days.
26. Honest people are working for various government entities to help protect your basic human rights and civil liberties.
27. An emergency room surgeon is in the middle of saving his patient’s life.
28. Someone is holding the door open for the person behind them.
29. Someone out there is missing you and looking forward to your next visit.
30. We are reminded that extraordinary things happen to ordinary people, and that there is beauty and wonder in everyday life.
    

Source link here

My very own ARR Top 10

Well it was his birthday yesterday and his songs were all over the place. 

Barring the ones I couldn't find, here's my Top 10.

1. Khoon chala (RDB) 

2. Latika's Theme (Slumdog Millionaire)

3. Roobaroo (Rang De Basanti) 

4. Thayya Thayya (Dil Se)

5. Tu bole (Jaane tu ya jaane na) 

6. Yeh Tara Woh Tara (Swades) 

7. Ramta jogi (Taal) 

8. Dil se re (Dil Se)

9. Behene De ( Raavan)

10. Khamosh Raat (Thakshak)

 

 

Of invention

Brownian Lacrosse.
Like a modern day
Interplanar Quidditch.
Rippling streams of fire
In seas of nothingness.
Near scalding sungrazers
Fueling off, cores ablaze
Focus, resolve, purpose et al. 
Trailing matter searing trajectories
Swooshing and swerving,
Their remnants, luminous,
Blinding momentarily
Melting away, in flashes
To the place, without time
Where they were born.
Game of choice.
Sport of invention. 

(Penned Jan 6, 2011)

To spareness: An Assay (Jane Hirshfield)

You lean toward non-existence but have not yet become it entirely.              For this reason, you can still be praised. The tree unleafing enters your dominion. An early snowfall shows you abide in all things. Your two dimensions are line and inclination. Therefore desire, incindering each mote of its object, itself is spare.                                                       The late paintings of Turner prove your slender depths without limit              The beauty too of shakuhachi and cello. “Winter darkness. Rain. No crickets singing.” —you are there, pulling hard on the rope-end. Remembering you, I remember also compassion. I cannot explain this.                                       Nor how you live in a teabowl or in a stone that has spent a long time in a river.              Nor the way you at times can signal your own contradiction,                                       meaning extra, but not by much— “Brother, can you spare a dime,” one thin man asks of another. Any room, however cluttered, gestures toward you, declaring:                 “Here lives this, not that.” In logic, the modest “<” sign gestures toward you. Your season is surely November, your fruit, persimmons ripening by coldness. Your sound is a crow cry, a bus idling at night by roadside. Without apparent effect, and so you remind of starlight on the colors of a cow’s hide. Your proposition, like you, is simple, of interest only to the human soul:              vast reach of all that is not, and still something is.

© 2005, Jane Hirshfield From: Poetry, Vol. 186, No. 2, May Publisher: Poetry, Chicago, 2005 Source link is here