Saturday, July 9, 2011

Sunday 160 - Zuihitsu


Baby jays perched on a rooftop. 
Cirrus uncinus clouds painted on an azure canvas. 
Desire to fly crushed 
by downy feathers and immature muscles. 
Flight tomorrow?
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This was a zuihitsu, Japanese for "follow the brush", a method of composition that is jotting down thoughts as they come to you. Used by fourteenth century poet and Buddhist monk, Kenko, I find it suits my lazy style of writing. I was so glad to find there was a name for the randomness I put down on paper or type on my laptop.
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If you wish to take the Sunday 160 challenge, here are the rules:

1. The Sunday 160 only uses EXACTLY 160 characters (including spaces).
2. Keep on schedule - post after 8:00 PM Pacific Time on Saturday.
3. Let me know you have posted via a comment on my site.
(Be sure to mention you have posted a 160. Provide a link if you can)
4. Visit at least one other Sunday 160 writer.
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18 comments:

Katherine said...

Whatever the style is called... I love it Monkey! Beautiful!

steveroni said...

Now I know what is: Cirrus uncinus

...and I'll bet at least 2 or 3 others know it--grin!

Also I've been following the practice of zuihitsu for a long time--but didn't know that either

My desire to write is crushed by downy feathers and an immature brain--a.k.a. 'muscle'!!!!

Thanks Monkey Man!

I could not fit what I had to say tonight into 160 characters but I ain't goin' away, man!

Brian Miller said...

ha. thanks for drumming up the name for what we do...lol. perhaps tomorrow the bird will learn to fly...

and my 160 is now up....

happy sunday

Evalinn said...

I never heard of zuihitsu before, thanks for sharing! :-)

I´m up this week!

gautami tripathy said...

I learnt something new!

Here is mine:

scrolled

Steve Isaak said...

Good, informative, interesting read.

Here's mine: Haunted: mutant island blues, post-revolt.

MorningAJ said...

Lovely photo and excellent words. I like the idea that your style has a name too - because I love it!

My 160 is maybe a little flat this week.

Unknown said...

Love the post, Mr. Monkey! I'm going to try to participate again. I haven't done much writing so I am pretty stale but here goes. My attempt is HERE

Pheromone Girl said...

I know that bird -and that feeling. My writing of late wasn't for sharing.

It's nice to watch the creatures in the yard grow up, despite big, stupid dog's best efforts.

Maude Lynn said...

I love this, Monkey Man! It's beautiful.

Anonymous said...

Yet another writing form I knew nothing about. I love your free-flowing consciousness writing, MM. I think I do some of that too.

Here's my entry today: http://bodhirose.wordpress.com/2011/07/10/napping/

Gayle ~

Maxwell Mead Williams Robinson Barry said...

awesome story in 160.

here is



My Sunday 160!,


Happy Sunday.

Olivia said...

Oh yessss.. chirp.. chirp...!!

I am all TGibberish this weekend...

Sunday hugs xox

Scarlet said...

Love it~ happy to know I am not along in doing that too.

Cute picture!

C.M. Jackson said...

beautiful!!

Anonymous said...

lovely! and such a sweet photograph of the bird. ♥

i like the sound of zuihitsu ~ sometimes i feel like i am painting at the same time as i write, using a brush to color my words. here's my 160:

http://haikulovesongs.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/aros-11-fruits-of-summer/

thanks, dani ♥

Claudya Martinez said...

Lazy-style of writing my a$$! Relaxed perhaps, but not lazy.

Dr. Heckle said...

My muscles are very immature... If I wake up with my hand in warm water one more time...