Butterfly Dream: Buttonhole and Winter Wind Haiku by Robert Epstein

English Original

one buttonhole begins to sing the winter wind

Whiptail, 11, 2024

Robert Epstein

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

一個紐扣孔開始吟唱冬風

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

一个纽扣孔开始吟唱冬风

Bio Sketch

Robert Epstein, a psychologist and haiku poet/anthologist, lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has edited four anthologies:  The Breath of Surrender; Dreams Wander On; The Temple Bell Stops; and Now This.  He has written two books of haiku:  A Walk Around Spring Lake; and Checkout Time is Noon, as well as a chapbook titled, What My Niece Said in His Head:  Haiku and Senryu 

Butterfly Dream: Aging Haiku by Robert Epstein

English Original

aging in place

I run circles around

the crescent moon

Robert Epstein

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

居家養老

繞著蛾眉月我跑

一圈又一圈

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

居家养老

绕着蛾眉月我跑

一圈又一圈

Bio Sketch

Robert Epstein, a psychologist and haiku poet/anthologist, lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has edited four anthologies:  The Breath of Surrender; Dreams Wander On; The Temple Bell Stops; and Now This.  He has written two books of haiku:  A Walk Around Spring Lake; and Checkout Time is Noon, as well as a chapbook titled, What My Niece Said in His Head:  Haiku and Senryu

Butterfly Dream: Zen Garden Haiku by Robert Epstein

English Original

zen garden

nothing

stands out

Checkout Time is Noon, 2022

Robert Epstein

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

禪宗花園

沒有什麼花草石塊

是脫穎而出

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

禅宗花园

没有什么花草石块

是脱颖而出

Bio Sketch

Robert Epstein, a psychologist and haiku poet/anthologist, lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has edited four anthologies:  The Breath of Surrender; Dreams Wander On; The Temple Bell Stops; and Now This.  He has written two books of haiku:  A Walk Around Spring Lake; and Checkout Time is Noon, as well as a chapbook titled, What My Niece Said in His Head:  Haiku and Senryu

Butterfly Dream: Wildfire Haze Haiku by Robert Epstein

English Original

wildfire haze  --

I can pray all I want

for emotional rescue

Robert Epstein

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

野火陰霾 --

我可以隨心所欲地祈禱

只為了舒發情感

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

野火阴霾 --

我可以随心所欲地祈祷

只为了舒发情感

Bio Sketch

Robert Epstein, a psychologist and haiku poet/anthologist, lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has edited four anthologies:  The Breath of Surrender; Dreams Wander On; The Temple Bell Stops; and Now This.  He has written two books of haiku:  A Walk Around Spring Lake; and Checkout Time is Noon, as well as a chapbook titled, What My Niece Said in His Head:  Haiku and Senryu

Butterfly Dream: Death Day Haiku by Robert Epstein

English Original

tall summer grass

so dry it hums

Dad’s death day

Haiku Days of Remembrance, 2018

Robert Epstein

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

高大的夏草

太乾了, 在風中發出嘶嘶聲

爸爸的忌日

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

高大的夏草

太干了, 在风中发出嘶嘶声

爸爸的忌日

Bio Sketch

Robert Epstein, a psychologist and haiku poet/anthologist, lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has edited four anthologies:  The Breath of Surrender; Dreams Wander On; The Temple Bell Stops; and Now This.  He has written two books of haiku:  A Walk Around Spring Lake; and Checkout Time is Noon, as well as a chapbook titled, What My Niece Said in His Head:  Haiku and Senryu

Butterfly Dream: Stream of Moonlight Haiku by Robert Epstein

English Original

uncertain future

I rest my head on a stream

of moonlight

Contemplating Nature: Pictures, Passages & Haiku, 2021

Robert Epstein

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

不確定的未來

在一縷月光中讓我的思緒

休息一下

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

不确定的未来

在一缕月光中让我的思绪

休息一下

Bio Sketch

Robert Epstein, a psychologist and haiku poet/anthologist, lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has edited four anthologies:  The Breath of Surrender; Dreams Wander On; The Temple Bell Stops; and Now This.  He has written two books of haiku:  A Walk Around Spring Lake; and Checkout Time is Noon, as well as a chapbook titled, What My Niece Said in His Head:  Haiku and Senryu

Butterfly Dream: Indigo Night Haiku by Robert Epstein

English Original

indigo night

in the cricket's song

no birth no death

Checkout Time is Noon, 2012

Robert Epstein

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

靛藍之夜

在蟋蟀的歌聲中

無生無死

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

靛蓝之夜

在蟋蟀的歌声中

无生无死

Bio Sketch

Robert Epstein, a psychologist and haiku poet/anthologist, lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has edited four anthologies:  The Breath of Surrender; Dreams Wander On; The Temple Bell Stops; and Now This.  He has written two books of haiku:  A Walk Around Spring Lake; and Checkout Time is Noon, as well as a chapbook titled, What My Niece Said in His Head:  Haiku and Senryu

Cool Announcement: Reissue of Checkout Time is Noon: Death Awareness Haiku

My Dear Friends:

I'm happy to share with you this exciting news: NeverEnding Story contributor Robert Epstein announced the reissue (as a tenth anniversary edition) of Checkout Time is Noon: Death Awareness Haiku this past February.

Book Summary: The great poet Rilke declared: “There is no task as urgent for us as to learn daily how to die.” Yet, how many of us actually live our dying? To be born is to die. Few appear willing to die psychologically moment after moment, and yet it is this very dying that is essential if one is to encounter the Eternal Now, where all true life takes place. Described as “wordless” because intuition relies on a pre-reflective form of knowing, haiku appears perfectly suited to shed light on cracks in the night that reveal the unborn and deathless right in the midst of our living-and-dying. This is the essence of death awareness haiku--a poetry of truth, love, and freedom. Will you wake up with former US Poet Laureate, Billy Collins, who wryly insists: “Death is what gets poets up in the morning”?

The following are the haiku selected for your reading pleasure:

zen garden

nothing

stands out

that way home

falling

cherry blossoms

coyote tracks

I follow them

to the end of time

in pine shade

for a while I forget

this life will end



indigo night

in the cricket's song

no birth no death

Happy Reading 

Chen-ou

Butterfly Dream: Coyote Tracks Haiku by Robert Epstein

English Original

coyote tracks

I follow them

to the end of time

Checkout Time is Noon, 2012

Robert Epstein

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

郊狼的足跡

我跟隨它們

直到時間的盡頭

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

郊狼的足迹

我跟随它们

直到时间的尽头

Bio Sketch

Robert Epstein, a psychologist and haiku poet/anthologist, lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has edited four anthologies:  The Breath of Surrender; Dreams Wander On; The Temple Bell Stops; and Now This.  He has written two books of haiku:  A Walk Around Spring Lake; and Checkout Time is Noon, as well as a chapbook titled, What My Niece Said in His Head:  Haiku and Senryu

Butterfly Dream: Cobblestone Walkway Haiku by Robert Epstein

English Original

cobblestone walkway --

I find my own way 

back to the future

Robert Epstein


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

鵝卵石人行道 --

我找到了自己的途徑

回到未來

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

鹅卵石人行道 --

我找到了自己的途径

回到未来

Bio Sketch

Robert Epstein, a psychologist and haiku poet/anthologist, lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has edited four anthologies:  The Breath of Surrender; Dreams Wander On; The Temple Bell Stops; and Now This.  He has written two books of haiku:  A Walk Around Spring Lake; and Checkout Time is Noon, as well as a chapbook titled, What My Niece Said in His Head:  Haiku and Senryu

Butterfly Dream: Crawl Space Haiku by Robert Epstein

English Original

home alone

I enter the crawl space

of a younger self

The Heron’s Nest, 17:2, June 2015 

Robert Epstein

Chinese Translation (Traditional)

獨自一人在家

我進入年輕時候的我

隱藏在房屋底層的爬行空間

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

独自一人在家

我进入年轻时候的我

隐藏在房屋底层的爬行空间

Bio Sketch

Robert Epstein, a psychologist and haiku poet/anthologist, lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has edited four anthologies:  The Breath of Surrender; Dreams Wander On; The Temple Bell Stops; and Now This.  He has written two books of haiku:  A Walk Around Spring Lake; and Checkout Time is Noon, as well as a chapbook titled, What My Niece Said in His Head:  Haiku and Senryu

Butterfly Dream: Robinsong Haiku by Robert Epstein

English Original

piano tuner
on her knees
robinsong

Robert Epstein


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

鋼琴調音師
下跪調音
知更鳥鳴聲

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

钢琴调音师
下跪调音
知更鸟鸣声


Bio Sketch

Robert Epstein, a psychologist and haiku poet/anthologist, lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has edited four anthologies:  The Breath of Surrender; Dreams Wander On; The Temple Bell Stops; and Now This.  He has written two books of haiku:  A Walk Around Spring Lake; and Checkout Time is Noon, as well as a chapbook titled, What My Niece Said in His Head:  Haiku and Senryu

Butterfly Dream: Gravel Path Haiku by Robert Epstein

English Original

gravel path
a toddler follows
the stroke survivor

Robert Epstein


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

礫石小路
一個幼兒跟隨
一位中風倖存者

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

砾石小路
一个幼儿跟随
一位中风幸存者


Bio Sketch

Robert Epstein, a psychologist and haiku poet/anthologist, lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has edited four anthologies:  The Breath of Surrender; Dreams Wander On; The Temple Bell Stops; and Now This.  He has written two books of haiku:  A Walk Around Spring Lake; and Checkout Time is Noon, as well as a chapbook titled, What My Niece Said in His Head:  Haiku and Senryu

Butterfly Dream: Breaking Waves Haiku by Robert Epstein

English Original

the answer is yes no yes breaking waves

Touchstone Individual Poem Award, 2015

Robert Epstein


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

答案是不是是破浪而出

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

答案是不是是破浪而出


Bio Sketch

Robert Epstein, a psychologist and haiku poet/anthologist, lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has edited four anthologies:  The Breath of Surrender; Dreams Wander On; The Temple Bell Stops; and Now This.  He has written two books of haiku:  A Walk Around Spring Lake; and Checkout Time is Noon, as well as a chapbook titled, What My Niece Said in His Head:  Haiku and Senryu

Butterfly Dream: Hummingbird Haiku by Robert Epstein

English Original

the heights
that hummingbird attains
dad’s death day

Robert Epstein


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

那隻蜂鳥
所飛達到的高度
父親的忌日

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

那只蜂鸟
所飞达到的高度
父亲的忌日


Bio Sketch

Robert Epstein, a psychologist and haiku poet/anthologist, lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has edited four anthologies:  The Breath of Surrender; Dreams Wander On; The Temple Bell Stops; and Now This.  He has written two books of haiku:  A Walk Around Spring Lake; and Checkout Time is Noon, as well as a chapbook titled, What My Niece Said in His Head:  Haiku and Senryu

Butterfly Dream: God and Ant Haiku by Robert Epstein

English Original

god a pressed ant

Robert Epstein


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

上帝被壓制的螞蟻

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

上帝被压制的蚂蚁


Bio Sketch

Robert Epstein, a psychologist and haiku poet/anthologist, lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has edited four anthologies:  The Breath of Surrender; Dreams Wander On; The Temple Bell Stops; and Now This.  He has written two books of haiku:  A Walk Around Spring Lake; and Checkout Time is Noon, as well as a chapbook titled, What My Niece Said in His Head:  Haiku and Senryu

Butterfly Dream: Dust Motes Haiku by Robert Epstein

English Original

dust motes
we don't really
die alone

Modern Haiku, 45.1, Winter/Spring 2014

Robert Epstein


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

微塵
我們並非
孤獨地死去

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

微尘
我们并非
孤独地死去


Bio Sketch

Robert Epstein, a psychologist and haiku poet/anthologist, lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has edited four anthologies:  The Breath of Surrender; Dreams Wander On; The Temple Bell Stops; and Now This.  He has written two books of haiku:  A Walk Around Spring Lake; and Checkout Time is Noon, as well as a chapbook titled, What My Niece Said in His Head:  Haiku and Senryu.

Butterfly Dream: Acorn Haiku by Robert Epstein

English Original

lost in thought thud of an acorn

Modern Haiku, 40:1, Winter-Spring, 2009

Robert Epstein


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

陷入沉思一個橡子的跌落聲
  
Chinese Translation (Simplified)

陷入沉思一個橡子的跌落聲


Bio Sketch

Robert Epstein, a psychologist and haiku poet/anthologist, lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has edited four anthologies:  The Breath of Surrender; Dreams Wander On; The Temple Bell Stops; and Now This.  He has written two books of haiku:  A Walk Around Spring Lake; and Checkout Time is Noon, as well as a chapbook titled, What My Niece Said in His Head:  Haiku and Senryu.

Butterfly Dream: Pine Shade Haiku by Robert Epstein

English Original

in pine shade
for a while I forget
this life will end

Moonset, 7, 2010

Robert Epstein


Chinese Translation (Traditional)

在松蔭中
一時我忘了
此生將會結束

Chinese Translation (Simplified)

在松荫中
一时我忘了
此生将会结束


Bio Sketch

Robert Epstein, a psychologist and haiku poet/anthologist, lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has edited four anthologies:  The Breath of Surrender; Dreams Wander On; The Temple Bell Stops; and Now This.  He has written two books of haiku:  A Walk Around Spring Lake; and Checkout Time is Noon, as well as a chapbook titled, What My Niece Said in His Head:  Haiku and Senryu.