Thursday 29 October 2009

Off to Paris so no blogs for a while...

Ooooops, missed the show

Our clocks went back last week and the USA didn't so I was late for the show. BUMMER.

Wednesday 28 October 2009

Got a witches hat for the show...


All tooled up for the show tonight with a stereotypical witches hat...

Tuesday 27 October 2009

Getting ready for witches talk tomorrow


Autumn brown kimono and kabuki mask with horns for the witches talk. Now I need to find some words... Having major lag issues!!!! Need to reboot... What was going on with Second Life???? CPU hungry beast!

Monday 26 October 2009

New DrLife lucky board skins




Weekend was lucky!. DrLife switches on lucky boards at the weekend, and I won a few skins...

Sunday 25 October 2009

Show at the new venue went well


The Blue Lotus venue was very nice. Small crowd and not much interaction. Was a couple of hours earlier than usual, peak time in the UK so I crashed a couple of times. Grrrrrrrrrrrr.

Saturday 24 October 2009

Ready for show

Here are my haiku for the show...

Konnichiwa Dear Patrons
Today I’ll tell some haiku, written by the Haiku Master Issa.
These haiku are all based on the theme of “Snow Buddha”.
In the west we make snowmen, in Japan they make snow Buddha…
The format of the performance will be the original Japanese haiku
followed by the Romaji rendering,
and then an English translation by David G. Lanoue.
*
And so to our first haiku:
はつ雪や仏の方より湧清水
hatsu yuki ya hotoke no hô yori waku shimizu
first snowfall--
from Buddha's direction
pure water gushes
*
有明や雪で作るも如来様
ariake ya yuki de tsukuru mo nyorai-sama
dawn--
with snow I make
Lord Buddha
*
うす雪の仏を作る子ども哉
usu yuki no hotoke wo tsukuru kodomo kana
he rolls thin snow
into a Buddha...
the child
*
御ひざに雀鳴也雪仏
on-hiza ni suzume naku nari yuki-botoke
a sparrow chirping
in his lap...
snow Buddha
*
とるとしもあなた任せぞ雪仏
torutoshi mo anata makase zo yuki-botoke
growing old too
I trust in a Buddha
of snow
*
はづかしや子どもも作る雪仏
hazukashi ya kodomo mo tsukuru yuki-botoke
ashamed--
even a child has made
a snow Buddha
*
はつ雪や仏にするもむづかしき
hatsu yuki ya hotoke ni suru mo muzukashiki
first snow--
making a Buddha of you
is hard too
*
雪仏犬の子どもが御好げな
yuki-botoke inu no kodomo ga o-sukigena
the snow Buddha
likes the puppy
it seems
*
我門にとしとり給へ雪仏
waga kado ni toshitori tamae yuki-botoke
he deigns to grow old
at my gate...
snow Buddha
*
わんぱくが仕業ながらも雪仏
wanpaku ga shiwaza nagara mo yuki-botoke
naughty child--
instead of his chores
a snow Buddha
*
一握り雪持って居る仏かな
hito nigiri yuki motte iru hotoke kana
he's holding one
snowball...
the Buddha
*
我国や子どもも作る雪仏
waga kuni ya kodomo mo tsukuru yuki-botoke
my province--
the children also make
snow Buddhas
*
はいかいを守らせ給へ雪仏
haikai wo mamorase tamae yuki-botoke
guard the haiku
I beseech you!
snow Buddha
*
はつ雪をおっつくねても仏哉
hatsu yuki wo o[t]tsukunete mo hotoke kana
first snow--
even a lump of it
is Buddha
*
雪仏我手の跡もなつかしや
yuki-botoke waga te no ato mo natsukashi ya
snow Buddha--
my handprint too
is something to cherish
*
寄合って雀がはやす雪仏
yo[ri]atte suzume ga hayasu yuki-botoke
sparrows gather
and cheer...
my snow Buddha
*
はつ降りや雪も仏に成にけり
hatsu furi ya yuki mo hotoke ni nari ni keri
first snowfall--
it too
becomes Buddha
*
初ものや雪も仏につくらるる
hatsumono ya yuki mo hotoke ni tsukuraruru
first of the season--
the snow, too
made into Buddha
*
我門は雪で作るも小仏ぞ
waga kado wa yuki de tsukuru mo ko-botoke zo
at my gate too
made of snow...
little Buddha
*
我とてもおがむ気になる雪仏
ware totemo ogamu ki ni naru yuki-botoke
putting me into
a praying mood...
snow Buddha
*
三介が開眼したり雪仏
sansuke ga kaigen shitari yuki-botoke
the servant displays
a holy image...
snow Buddha
*
かりそめの雪も仏となりにけり
karisome no yuki mo hotoke to nari ni keri
even our fleeting snow
becomes
Buddha!
*
みだ堂にすがりて雪の残りけり
mida dô ni sugarite yuki no nokori keri
on Amida Buddha's
temple clinging...
leftover snow
*
花の所へ雪が降る涅槃哉
hana no tokoro e yuki ga furu nehan kana
snow falls
instead of blossoms...
Buddha's Death-Day
*
門先や雪の仏も苦い顔
kado saki ya yuki no hotoke mo nigai-gao
at my gate
the snow Buddha also
scowls
*
All these haiku were written between 1810 and 1825,
almost 200 years ago!
And that ends my performance for today…

Friday 23 October 2009

Bashed out a show for tomorrow

The theme is Buddha so I've made a couple of talks. One a story, one a haiku jobbie...

Thursday 22 October 2009

Wednesday show was nice

The girls put on a nice show. And some good tips... HP chan is close to her misedashi.

Tuesday 20 October 2009

A new group from Toshiha chan

Zashiki-gi is a branch of Ancient Tree that features accurate and colorful ensembles for the geiko, maiko and even minarai of SL, designed by Toshiha Magic.

The term "zashiki-gi" is what geiko call their kimono worn for tea house parties, or zashiki.

Monday 19 October 2009

Hosoi visit

Went to Hosoi last night, to the tea house for a visit...

Sunday 18 October 2009

Heian show pics




Was a nice show. Okaasan arrived in time for the most part of the show.

Saturday 17 October 2009

The show today is on the Heian period....

The Heian period (平安時代, Heian jidai?) is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyoto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Confucianism and other Chinese influences were at their height. The Heian period is also considered the peak of the Japanese imperial court and noted for its art, especially poetry and literature. Although the Imperial House of Japan had power on the surface, the real power was in the hands of the Fujiwara clan, a powerful aristocratic family who had intermarried with the Emperor of Japan.

I'll be doing poems...

Friday 16 October 2009

Misedashi talk started for HP chan

HP chan has started work on her misedashi talk. It's very thoughtful...

Thursday 15 October 2009

New more intimate stage


A new stage concept by Kaylin chan. Each performer did a turn on the front part of the stage with their own dance HUD. Audience had a choice of 3 sides to sit and watch. Goodish tips.

Wednesday 14 October 2009

My haiku for the show today

Konnichiwa Dear Patrons
The theme today is autumn
so please allow me to share my passion for poems.
by reciting a few chosen autumn haiku..
*
Depth of autumn
a few leaves on the tree
dancing
*
Autumn leaves
the girls talk about
Christmas
*
Autumn
from the gnarled trees
fluttering birds
*
Lone leaf
where has everyone
gone?
*
Bursting in bright hues
Splashing colours all about
autumn leaves must fall.
*
Chill wind
autumn breathes
its last
*
Reading outdoors
between pages
a dry leaf
*
Gust of wind
tired leaf
lets go
*
Ruined church
leaves fall
among the weeds
*
Autumn mist
slipping and sliding
towards winter
*
Weekend afternoon
red leaves skip down the street
behind the kids
*
Today the horizons
retreat into vague grey
bare branches
*
Thanksgiving grace--
peeking to spy a young niece
peeking back
*
Brittle leaf
rain soaked
in pieces
*
Fallen leaves
fill the hammock--
autumn repose
*
Night on the old pond
a frog sits
on the moon
*
Oh scarlet autumn!
that profound punctuation
to shamrock summer
*
Crows pluck crimson leaves
from birdbath to splash amid
blue sky reflections
*
Kaleidoscopic leaves
swirl and camouflage winter's
relentless approach
*
Indian Summer
burnishes bright leaf colours
into pastel hues
*
Fun fills the night air ...
homecoming, football, bands, but ...
no date for the dance
*
Jack-o-lantern glow
and stench cloak trick-or-treaters
on Halloween night
*
Umber oak leaves cling
stubbornly to their boughs
rasping until spring
*
Tears for NYC
and our Pentagon doth fill
an ocean of angst
*
Autumn: my yearly
clash with conflicting feelings
of joy and despair
*
Yellow autumn moon ...
unimpressed the scarecrow stands
simply looking bored
*
At our last parting
bending between boat and shore ...
that weeping willow
*
September sunshine ...
the hovering dragonfly's
shimmering shadow
*
See ... the heavy leaf
on the silent windless day ...
falls of its own will
*
So enviable ...
maple-leaves most glorious
contemplating death
*
Shocking ... the red of
lacquered fingernails against
white chrysanthemum
*
Do your worst, old frost
you can no longer wound me ...
last chrysanthemum!
*
Dry cheerful cricket
chirping, keeps the autumn gay ...
contemptuous of frost
*
Dancing in my silks
money tossed itself away ...
pretty, this paper dress!
*
Now in late autumn
look, on my old rubbish-heap ...
blue morning glory
*
Lonely umbrella
passing the House at twilight...
first snow falling soft
*
Thank you for your kind attention…

Tuesday 13 October 2009

Kaylin chan directs on Wednesday

Kaylin chan is making a new stage for the show on Wednesday. The theme is fall/autumn, so I've offered some haiku as a performance.

Monday 12 October 2009

Teaching starts tonight

Japanese teaching starts tonight, an hour earlier than last year so that means fighting rush hour traffic, grrrrrrrrrrr. At least I get home an hour earlier.

Directors needed for this week...

Have done my bit for a while but might be able to help out...

Sunday 11 October 2009

Saturday show went smooth


Was a smooth show despite the lag. I ran the dance HUD.
Here was my story:
Konnichiwa Dear Patrons.
It is my pleasure to tell the story of the Jirohei Cherry Tree.
Some time ago, there was a cherry tree beloved by the local people.
The tree was famous for its beauty,
and a man named Jirohei built a tea house next to it.
The tea house began as a tiny establishment,
but soon grew to be very popular with travelers to the nearby temple.
Jirohei, a humble man, told those who asked
that his success was the result of being next to such a fine cherry tree.
Jirohei was quite fond of the tree,
and cared for it to the best of his ability.
He protected the tree by keeping anyone
from tearing off branches or climbing on it.
The tree flourished under his watchful and caring eye,
as did his teahouse.
One fine spring morning,
when the tree was in full bloom,
a wandering samurai happened upon the tea house
and stopped to admire the cherry tree's blossoms.
The samurai was a tall, mean looking man,
and he scowled at Jirohei when he approached.
"You," said the samurai,
"Who is the owner of this tea house?"
"I am, sir," said Jirohei meekly.
"How may I serve you?"
The samurai gazed at the tree.
"This is magnificent,
how fortunate you are to have it growing right beside your establishment."
Jirohei nodded.
"Yes, if it weren't for this tree
my tea house would never be the success that it is."
"Give me a branch from it," said the samurai.
"It will make a fine present for my favorite geisha."
Jirohei shook his head.
"I'm very sorry, sir, but I cannot.
I am unable to give anyone a branch from the tree,

although I am often asked."
"I am not even permitted to take blossoms from the tree,
it was a condition that the temple priests gave
before I was permitted to build my tea house."
"Please forgive me, but as the old saying goes,
"Cut the plum tree for your vases, but not the cherry!"
"You misunderstand," snarled the samurai.
"I wasn't asking if you would give me a branch.
I was telling you to get me one.
If you don't get it,
I will take it by force."
"I apologize,
but I am unable to do as you ask," said Jirohai.
He humbly stood his ground,
just as determined in his way as any samurai.
The samurai regarded him for a moment,
and then drew his sword.
He took aim at the tree's finest branch.
Jirohei grabbed at the samurai's sleeve and begged,

"Please sir, do not harm the tree,
you may take my life instead if you wish."
"Fine," said the samurai,
and cut Jirohei's arm in an attempt to get him to step aside.
Jirohei let go, but ran for the tree and tried to block the samurai.
The samurai swung again and cut off the branch.
Jirohei was unable to dodge in time,
and slumped to the ground after he was struck.
The samurai realized that Jirohei was dead.
He fled from the area,
leaving the branch where it had fallen.
Jirohei's wife and servants found him lifeless
and still clinging to the tree.
Even with many strong arms,
it still took over an hour
before they were able to pry Jirohei's body away.
Jirohei's wife was so upset
that as soon as everyone had gone back into the teahouse to discuss what to do,
she hung herself from the cherry tree.
After that sad day, the tea house began to fail.
Customers became few and far between,
and even those that did come did not spend much.
The tree, also, began to wither and fade.
After nine months, it was only dead wood.
The tea house had to be closed around the same time.
Rumors began to circulate that ghosts had been spotted around the tree.
Many businesses, and even the temple,
began to suffer as customers began to fear going anywhere near the tree.
These rumors reached the samurai,
but he did not say a word to anyone except his father. Finally he decided to see for himself about the ghosts.
His father tried to stop him,
but he was still as headstrong as ever.
He armed himself and arrived at the tree late at night.
He settled in behind a stone lantern
and waited to see if the rumors of ghosts were true.
Midnight came, and the samurai was shocked to see
that the dead cherry tree burst into bloom.
Its appearance was exactly the same
as the day that Jirohei had been felled by his sword.
Enraged and terrified all at once,
the samurai leapt at the tree
and began hacking at it with his sword.
He heard what sounded like screaming
and begging for mercy,
but he kept hacking away.
An hour later, he was tired,
and sat down to wait for the sunlight
to show him the damage he had done to the tree.
At daybreak, as the light made the scene clearer,
his jaw dropped and he let out a howl.
His father lay behind the tree,
dead from many sword blows.
The samurai realized that his father
had come to try and stop his foolish errand,
and had been caught behind the tree
when he began his attack.
Heartbroken, the samurai went to the nearby temple
to atone for his crime,
which he did later that morning by taking his own life.
After that morning,
life in the area resumed much as it had before. Businesses began to prosper again,
as did the temple,
as people came to gaze curiously on the tree.
The rumors of ghosts faded over time,
and soon lived on only in the tale I've told you today.

Friday 9 October 2009

Signed up for Saturday

I'll be at the Osho show. Open theme, yellow kimono. Have to hunt out a story...

Thursday 8 October 2009

Show shot and performance text


Tigers show went down well. Okaasan was there. HP chan crashed 15 minutes before the show but got back on with 2 minutes to spare. Had been a power cut there so was in the dark! Jael chan was ready as backup, doumo. Goodish tips as well for a change. My story was a long one, 30 mins about the tiger king's skin coat.
Here is my performance:

Konnichiwa honoured guests.
The tale I share with you today is a Mongolian Folktale
called "The Tiger King's Skin Cloak"
Long, long ago, in feudal times, there lived in the land of the Khans a poor herdsman.
His wife bore three children, but unfortunately they all died.
No further children were born to the couple and they lived a solitary and wretched life.
Then unexpectedly one winter's day the herdsman’s wife gave birth to a boy.
The couple were overjoyed, but they began to wonder
how they were going to raise their child.
Except for a cow and two mountain goats
they had nothing of any value.
What were they to do?
Though distressed they nevertheless went outside their tent
to milk the cow for the baby.
The child grew not by the day but by the hour.
Before evening the infant had grown taller and sturdier than a man.
Husband and wife were both astonished and delighted.
They named their boy Ku-nan, which means Ancient South.
On the very first day Ku-nan ate up a whole goat.
On the next day he ate up the other goat.
The old couple were filled with dismay.
One more day, they thought, and the cow will be done for!
And then what will we have to live on?
On the third day Ku-nan said to his mother,
"Ah-Mother, we are so poor and we have only one cow left.
Let me go and find some work to do.
I'm afraid that I will fall ill if I stay at home any longer."
She looked at her son's tall and robust figure and,
taking his big hand in hers, said in a tearful voice,
"My son, what work can you do?
You might perhaps go to the Khan.
He could have some work for you."
Ku-nan pondered for a while, then agreed.
After taking leave of his parents, he fared forth on an empty stomach.
Half way he met with a hungry wolf.
As soon as the wolf saw Ku-nan it jumped on him.
Luckily Ku-nan immediately tackled the wolf and killed it with his bare hands.
Ku-nan then skinned the wolf and, making himself a bonfire,
roasted the meat and ate it.
Having done so, Ku-nan continued on his way and at dusk reached the Khan's yurt.
The sly old Khan saw such a strong person before him,
he thought of testing Ku-nan's strength.
The Khan had a whole cow roasted and invited Ku-nan to eat it.
Ku-nan not only ate up all the meat, but gnawed the bones clean, too.
The Khan then kept Ku-nan in his yurt as his personal attendant and bodyguard.
Ku-nan often went with the Khan deep into the forest to hunt,
and every time they came home with a full bag.
One day, when the two of them, together with some of the Khan's servants,
went hunting in the deep reaches of the forest,
a huge tiger suddenly leaped out upon them.
The Khan was so frightened he broke into a cold sweat.
Without a thought for Ku-nan's safety the Khan whipped his horse into a gallop
and tore off down the mountain.
The Khan's servants fled helter-skelter, covering their heads with their hands.
But Ku-nan did not stir.
As the tiger sprang upon him he calmly dodged to one side,
grabbed one of its hind legs,
and swung the beast against a big tree.
There was a crash, and many tree leaves fluttered to the ground.
The tiger lay motionless on the ground with its stomach ripped open.
Ku-nan put the carcass on his back and strode off after the Khan.
When the Khan reached his yurt, he was still in such a state of fright
he could not dismount from his horse.
Luckily his servants, who had taken to their heels when the tiger appeared,
came to his aid and lifted him off his horse.
At this moment Ku-nan arrived.
When the Khan saw the tiger on Ku-nan's back he panicked.
He rushed into his yurt and barred the door.
"Hurry! All of you," he bawled.
"Defend the door! Don't let the tiger in!"
Later when the Khan heard it was a dead tiger Ku-nan had brought,
he mustered his courage and came out of his hiding place.
Foaming with rage he cursed Ku-nan,
using all the foul words he knew,
and took the tiger's skin into his yurt.
Once the Khan had the tiger's skin as a mattress,
he decided he wanted a cloak made of the Tiger King's skin.
Thus he commanded Ku-nan to catch the Tiger King within three days.
If Ku-nan were to fail in his mission the Khan would have him executed.
Ku-nan felt very dejected.
Where was he to find the Tiger King?
It was said that the Tiger King lived in a remote cave in the Northern Mountains,
and that there were lots of tigers there in the vicinity.
But no one had even been known to return from the place.
The skies grew dark, and Ku-nan returned home feeling very unhappy.
He told his parents of what had happened.
The old couple were in a quandary.
If they were to prevent him from going,
they were afraid the Khan would really put their son to death.
But if they were to let him go, who could guarantee his safety?
Husband and wife sat facing each other and wept.
They made such a to-do that Ku-nan found it hard to come to any decision.
Suddenly an old herdsman came into their shabby little cottage.
"My lad," he addressed Ku-nan, "don't be downcast.
The Tiger King is afraid of a brave man.
As long as you keep your native land and your dear ones in mind,
you'll be able to overcome any hardship.
Go, my lad. I'll give you a dappled pony to ride on.
Good luck to you!"
The old herdsman lightly kissed Ku-nan on his forehead and disappeared.
When Ku-nan went outside he saw a dappled pony neighing in his direction.
The skies gradually grew light, and Ku-nan bade his parents goodbye.
Taking his bow, arrow-bag, and dagger,
Ku-nan mounted his charge and set off on his mission.
At first the pony trotted along at a normal pace,
but later it broke into a canter, and then a gallop.
Faster and faster the pony went,
so fast that Ku-nan could only see the yurts along the road as a blur.
After a while the pony slackened its speed.
Just then Ku-nan saw near a yurt a wolf just about to attack a little girl.
In the nick of time Ku-nan slipped an arrow into his bow, and let fly.
The wolf instantly fell dead on the ground with an arrow in its head.
An old woman ran out from the yurt.
When she realized that Ku-nan had saved her granddaughter's life,
she invited him in for a bowl of milk-tea.
Before Ku-nan’s departure she gave him a sheep-bone and said,
"Take it, lad, it'll be of some use to you in the future."
With her gift in hand, Ku-nan vaulted upon his pony
and continued his way northwards.
As he trotted along the road he found his way blocked by a broad river.
Suddenly the water rose and formed great billows.
A huge turtle emerged and swam to the riverbank.
"My lad," it croaked, "you had better turn back.
You'll never get across this river."
"Oh, surely," replied Ku-nan.
"All difficulties can be overcome."
"Oh, well then, brave lad," the turtle said, "please help me.
My left eye aches so badly,
I want to have it taken out and replaced with a new one.
Please, help me, take it out for me."
"All right, I'll help you." Replied Ku-nan.
Ku-nan removed the painful eye and looked in his hands.
The eye had turned into a glowing, flawless, precious pearl.
After looking at the pearl Ku-nan's eyesight became very sharp,
he could even see a group of yurts in the far distance.
Ku-nan remounted his pony and as though understanding its master's intention
plunged into the water.
What a miracle!
No sooner had the water touched the precious pearl
the river divided to form a transparent wall on either side,
leaving a dry path through the center.
Ku-nan rode across to the opposite bank of the river without further difficulty.
Once out the water then flowed its usual course as if nothing had ever happened.
Ku-nan soon reached the yurts he had seen in the distance.
An old shepherd was softly weeping there.
He was a pitiful sight.
Having dismounted from his pony, Ku-nan addressed him.
"Grandpa, what makes you so sad?" he asked.
"Please tell me, perhaps I can be of some help to you."
The old shepherd wiped his eyes and sighed.
"Young man, even if I tell you, I'm afraid you won't be able to help me.
Yesterday the Tiger King carried off my one and only daughter.
I don't know whether she's alive or dead now...."
The old man again broke into heart-rending sobs.
"Grandpa, don't lose heart," Ku-nan consoled him.
"I'm sure your daughter isn't dead.
I'm looking for that Tiger King.
I'll go there and rescue her."
The old shepherd cheered up.
He invited Ku-nan into his tent to have some tea.
After his tea, Ku-nan thanked the old man and left.
Before dark Ku-nan arrived at the place where the Tiger King lived.
From afar he could see a stone cave up on the mountain.
At the entrance were more than ten tigers on guard.
As Ku-nan neared the cave,
he fished the sheep bone out of his pocket and threw it to the tigers.
He then entered the stone cave and found the shepherd's daughter.
She told him that the Tiger King had been out since early morning,
and that he had not yet returned, but probably would soon.
She thought of hiding Ku-nan, but he refused,
suggesting that he first rescues her and take her home.
She agreed, and the two of them rode the dappled pony out of the cave.
The tigers outside were still fighting over the sheep bone.
Ku-nan flourished his whip, and the pony dashed down the mountain like a whirlwind.
Suddenly a gust of wild wind blew from the north.
Riding on a yellow cloud, an ogre with the head of a tiger and the body of a man,
all covered with golden hair, came chasing down.
Ku-nan turned round and let fly an arrow, which pierced the ogre's left eye.
The Tiger King roared furiously.
The Tiger King reached out a huge paw and yanked Ku-nan off his charge.
Then with a single blow he drove Ku-nan waist-deep into the ground.
Ku-nan wriggled out.
With one stroke Ku-nan smote the ogre neck-deep into the ground,
and, without waiting for him to free himself,
swiftly unsheathed his dagger and thrust the blade deep into the ogre's skull.
Ku-nan thus ended the Tiger King's life.
Ku-nan pulled the carcass out of the ground and,
dragging it by one leg, caught up with his pony.
Ku-nan and the girl then returned to her home.
When the old shepherd saw that Ku-nan had rescued his daughter,
he was very happy, and gave him her hand in marriage.
Ku-nan stayed the night in their yurt and, when day grew light,
got ready to set off with his wife on their pony.
Just as they were preparing to leave
they heard a howling wind approaching from the north.
Ku-nan turned to look and saw ten or so tigers coming in hot pursuit.
They were those Ku-nan had left fighting over the sheep bone the day before.
Ku-nan hurriedly sent his wife into the yurt.
Ku-nan shot an arrow and killed one tiger in the lead.
Then Ku-nan unsheathed his dagger and strode forward to meet the rest.
A furious combat ensued.
In one breath Ku-nan slayed seven or eight of the tigers,
but the remaining three attacked him with redoubled fierceness.
Ku-nan felt himself become utterly exhausted.
Just as he was on the point of collapse, the old shepherd,
at the head of about ten young lads, rushed to the rescue.
They brought with them poles for breaking in horses.
They helped Ku-nan scare off the three remaining tigers
and thus relieved him from danger.
Ku-nan thanked them for their help and gave them all the tigers he had slain.
Taking his wife Ku-nan remounted their pony and proceeded home.
When the Khan saw that Ku-nan had slain the Tiger King
and had brought home a beautiful wife besides,
he felt very happy and at the same time envious.
He ordered Ku-nan's wife to make him a cloak out of the Tiger King's skin,
and not to miss a single hair of the pelt.
Ku-nan's wife did as the Khan bade her and let her husband take the cloak to him.
When the Khan saw the cloak he was extremely pleased.
He thought of showing himself off in his domain in all his majesty.
He wanted everybody to know that he, the Khan,
possessed a precious cloak made of the Tiger King's skin.
A platform was erected in front of the Khan's yurt.
The Khan invited the officials from all over the land to eat and drink and carouse.
The time arrived and there stood a great multitude of people
who had come from every corner of the land to see the Khan's Tiger King cloak.
After a while, amidst the blare of music,
the Khan ambled across the platform with a self-satisfied air.
The Khan made a sweeping gesture with his hand
and a well-dressed servant climbed up, bearing a yellow bundle.
The servant opened up the bundle
and took out the glistening golden coloured cloak made of the Tiger King's skin.
The servant paraded the cloak for everyone to see,
and then helped the Khan to put it on.
No sooner had the Khan put on the cloak
than he turned into a fierce motley-coloured tiger.
The tiger made a deafening roar and bounded off the platform
and attacked the throng, biting and wounding many people.
The officials were so scared they leaped onto their horses
and made off for all they were worth.
At that moment Ku-nan fortunately arrived on the scene.
When Ku-nan saw a tiger chasing people and mauling them, he was horrified.
Ku-nan thought of shooting the beast with his arrow,
but unluckily he had left his arrow-bag at home,
even his dagger was not at his girdle.
As Ku-nan was fumbling helplessly, the tiger suddenly charged in his direction.
Ku-nan stood his ground and waited until the beast had come within reach.
Then with the swiftness of an eagle Ku-nan grabbed the tiger’s tail,
jerked it into the air and in a single breath smote it ten times upon the ground.
The tiger lay on the ground bruised, maimed, bleeding, and soon died.
Because the beast was formerly the Khan, the people went to bury it.
From then on Ku-nan went out hunting every day,
riding his dapple pony, and on his return he would share his kill
with the poor herdsmen from around the neighbourhood.
Besides hunting Ku-nan often cured the poor of their eye diseases
with his precious pearl.
As soon as old people looked at the pearl, their dim sight would become clear.
And as soon as the blind rolled the precious pearl round the orbit of their eyes,
they would be able to see.
Thanks to Ku-nan’s help the poor herdsmen began to sing their joyful songs again
and their lives became much more pleasant.
And here ends my tale for today…

Wednesday 7 October 2009

Show today is on TIGERS


At 2:30 p.m. SL time I'm directing a geisha show at Little Yoshiwara... The theme is TIGERS.

Tuesday 6 October 2009

Kimono is modify...



The pink kimono is modify so I made the collar white. 2 new minarai to greet, Shanty Bookmite and Ina Spires...

Monday 5 October 2009

Opened tea house - no one came inside



Evening time on Sunday so tried a tea house opening. First time open for a while. Winterstorm san dropped by but only chatted. When Jin san turned up they went off to do fighting training. My little sister HP chan was there waiting and Geisha Yoneyu was ready in case we had a flood of customers! Wishful thinking.

Sunday 4 October 2009

Freebie pink kimono


Freebieeeeeeeeeee. A new kimono this morning...

Saturday 3 October 2009

Show drew a tear...


The show on fthers was great. Super story from HP chan. Here is my performance:
*
Konnichiwa Dear Patrons.
Our show theme today is Fathers,
so here are a few related haiku,
some old, some new, to enjoy.
*
Oh, gracious father
take my hand, and lead me on
your trail of wisdom.
*
Ballgames, pro wrestling,
chatting while fishing the river
(Dad gave me his time).
*
Father’s day
teeth missing
from the pocket comb.
*
Piano practice
in the room above me
my father shouting.
*
Two lines in the water . . .
not a word between
father and son.
*
His vomit wiped up
my bowl of Wheaties
soggy now.
*
Prayers over
dad’s casket descends
through a maze of severed roots.
*
Father’s Day
she tells me
I’m not the father.
*
Putting on my socks -
that little grunt
dad always made.
*
Almost sunset
the weekend dad
drags a sled up the hill.
*
Old passport
the tug
of my father’s smile.
*
Sick in bed -
my son pelts the window
with snowballs.
*
Spring sun-
high in his arms
the newborn is shown.
*
First breath
after the caesarean
my son’s birth.
*
Opening day
in separate bleacher’s
the boy’s parents.
*
Where is my Father?
Does he watch down over me now?
Do I make him proud?
*
Cold April morning --
the scent of
dad's old shirt.
*
Praiseworthy hero
Like a candle in my mind
Blazing intensely
*
Dad is a hero
Keeps me unscathed from danger
Likeable and neat.
*
It's easy to see
The relationship between
My father and me.
*
He fills hearts with joy
Strong and wise and there for me
Always my idol.
*
His pure white silk shirt
A familiar fragrance
I never forget.
*
A friendly image
Glasses perched upon his nose
I love him so much.
*
His velvet black shoes
Touch the ground, softly, gently
Laces tied neatly.
*
I like to greet him
A smile stretched across my face
I wait by the door.
*
Loving and happy
The memories with him I'll
Cherish forever.
*
Some people's heroes
Are celebrities or stars
My hero's my Dad.
*
Looks like it's not always easy being a father!
Thank you for your kind attention…

Friday 2 October 2009

All set for tomorrow's show

Have my haiku re fathers all set and edited my little sister's story. It's a heart wrencher...

Thursday 1 October 2009

Great show, low turn out


We put on a lovely show last night, pity only a few patrons turned up to watch. The Saturday show looks to be 3 of the same performers. Not sure what has happened to all the okiya sisters...
Here are the haiku from last night:
*
I reach for you
empty arms return
the night is chill
*
I wake in dampness
stretching toward the light
struck dumb by the fog
*
Were I to leave shore
would the waves swallow me up
would I return in spring?
*
Dark clouds hovering
obscuring the sun’s hot rays
rain is sure to fall
*
Winter settles in
will the heat of summer
keep me warm
*
Where fires burn today
next year after the spring rain
morels will sprout
*
Bereft of their blooms
do the thorny rose bushes
grieve as much as I?
*
Would I were the crab
who so swiftly sheds his shell
when it hurts too much
*
Oh curious bug
climbing up the southern wall
don’t look down on me
*
Would I travel far
if I had six legs and wings
or would I stay home?
*
I wrestle with thoughts
that crack my resolve
autumn breezes pass
*
Weeding my garden
in the hot noon sun of July
I thirst for you love
*
Autumn clouds looming low
assuming fantastic shapes
if I could only fly
*
When the frost comes back
portending the coming snows
will I be patient
*
Those fleecy mountains
rising on the western ridge
my name called clearly
*
Was I someone bad
did I do some awful thing
cancer’s come to call
*
I seem to have learned
much about pain
this winter
*
Songs don’t sing themselves
they need many instruments
on many branches
*
Spring was foggy
why didn’t I know that
until winter came
*
The melons grow large now
we’d better make use of them
before winter comes
*
Trudging through the snow
as the red salmon swimming
against the current
*
Has my life become
like the hapless horseshoe
leaning against the pin
*
Yellow rose petals
lying in the shallow dish
along with some red
*
Laughter of the spring
will their joys be muffled
in the winter snow
*
Fiery august skies
raindrops quickly soak my clothes
my body shivers
*
Sultry august rain
tomatoes fatten themselves
roses push skyward
*
Will I find the words
to capture this autumn day
before winter comes?
*
My cucumbers hide
under their broad protective leaves
hot July sun
*
Fiery august sky
huge torrential drenching
clothes cling to my skin
*
Heavy my garments
quickly drenched my skin
cloudburst in august
*
Fiery tendrils
tree trunk shattered in twain
august strikes again
*
Steam rising from the bay
crabs lurking in the seaweed
July at the beach
*
August at the beach
wisps of smoke floating, stinging
jellyfish rule the day
*
Thank you for your kind attention…