Tanka challenge 11/2/11

11/2/11:

Eyes, ears and mouth clasped
With frozen brass paws, they sit
Silent on their shelf.
Hear No Evil seems puzzled
By an eternal silence.

Randomy randomness.

In case you couldn't tell, the preceding entry is what happens when one has issued a challenge, realizes one needs to squeeze out a tanka and is stumped for what to write about. I think Billy Collins did a much better job, but as it happens, I do have a brass Three-Wise-Monkeys paperweight on the bookcase opposite my desk. That said, my evil plot to get people writing poetry is working over on the Tousando - we've got some new players trying the form, including Lady McPostypants. (Speaking of whom, she let slip that she's out of work and just got turned down for something, which may explain why she's Living On Teh Interwebz! I PM'ed her with my standard "if you want to try temping" suggestion and a link to OfficeTeam - they're all over the US, they kept me busy when I first moved out here and I found permanent employment through them.)  

Kuroneko arrived in the mail today, debating whether to save it for Sunday or crack it open tomorrow night. Though I should probably use tomorrow afternoon to organize class supplies and get that out of the way for Saturday's Collegium. I "wasted" time on the latest issue of Smithsonian, instead, and crashed out for a much needed nap. Lovely article in there about a Buddhist monk who is doing field work on the Tibetan bunting. Be sure to check out the video link as well.

Taiko was fun last night. OK, right, when is it not? Got to duet with Tony on the shime-daiko last night and that was a little scary being the stronger player of the pair (as opposed to last week), but we mostly nailed it. However, sticking one rep of "Shinkyoku" in the middle of "JIsshin" is only going to work as a place holder until Sensei comes up with something better to put in there as a shime interlude, because it's too recognizable if the group performs it separately.