A friend gave me the Gospel of Thomas (early non-canonical gospel) to read, and it just cried out to be made into haiku.<\/p>\n
I wrote the original 21 haiku one evening (1 August 2002) while reading through Craig Schenk’s version<\/a> of the Gospel of Thomas. Originally not all of them were “classic” haiku (5-7-5 syllables), but I later (February 2005) revised them so they all were, and added another six for a new total of 27. Some were extensively rewritten, others just had the line breaks shifted and a couple needed no changes. The six new haiku are numbers 6, 7, 9, 10, 23 and 25.<\/p>\n They’re probably not great haiku but the subject matter gives them a boost.<\/p>\n More about the Gospel of Thomas here<\/a>. That site also has a FAQ<\/a>.<\/p>\n The first three haiku are based on the translation of the Greek version<\/a>, the others are from the translation of the Coptic version<\/a>. I’d like to learn Coptic<\/a> and read it in the original, but I don’t have the energy just now. Verse references are to the Coptic version.<\/p>\n 1. (v.2)<\/p>\n Seek until you find 2. (v.3)<\/p>\n If you will not know 3. (v.5)<\/p>\n Recognise what is 4. (v.6b)<\/p>\n Tell no lies, and do 5. (v.10)<\/p>\n I have cast the fire 6. (v. 13)<\/p>\n Jesus is like – what? 7. (v. 17)<\/p>\n What I give you, no 8. (v.18)<\/p>\n Disciples, who ask 9. (v. 19)<\/p>\n If you heed my words, 10.\u00a0 (v. 22)<\/p>\n When two are one, and 11. (v.24)<\/p>\n Light is in a man 12. (v.25)<\/p>\n Jesus said, Love your 13. (v.28)<\/p>\n I came in the flesh. 14. (v.37)<\/p>\n When shall we see you? 15. (v.48)<\/p>\n If two make peace here 16. (v.50a)<\/p>\n Whence are you? Of light. 17. (v. 50b)<\/p>\n What is the sign of 18. (v.58)<\/p>\n Jesus said, “Blessed 19. (v.69)<\/p>\n Blessed, those within 20. (v.70)<\/p>\n Bring forth from within 21. (v.77)<\/p>\n Split a piece of wood 22. (v.82)<\/p>\n Those near to me are 23. (v. 83) 24. (v.91)<\/p>\n You read the sky and 25 (v. 106)<\/p>\n When you make two one 26. (v.108)<\/p>\n Drink from my mouth – be 27. (v.111)<\/p>\n Does not Jesus say, 1. (v.2)<\/p>\n Seek until you find 2. (v.3)<\/p>\n If you will not know 3. (v.5)<\/p>\n Recognise what is 4. (v.6b)<\/p>\n Tell no lies, and do 5. (v.10)<\/p>\n I have cast the fire 6. (v. 13)<\/p>\n Jesus is like – what? 7. (v. 17)<\/p>\n What I give you, no 8. (v.18)<\/p>\n Disciples, who ask 9. (v. 19)<\/p>\n If you heed my words, 10.\u00a0 (v. 22)<\/p>\n When two are one, and 11. (v.24)<\/p>\n Light is in a man 12. (v.25)<\/p>\n Jesus said, Love your 13. (v.28)<\/p>\n I came in the flesh. 14. (v.37)<\/p>\n When shall we see you? 15. (v.48)<\/p>\n If two make peace here 16. (v.50a)<\/p>\n Whence are you? Of light. 17. (v. 50b)<\/p>\n What is the sign of 18. (v.58)<\/p>\n Jesus said, “Blessed 19. (v.69)<\/p>\n Blessed, those within 20. (v.70)<\/p>\n Bring forth from within 21. (v.77)<\/p>\n Split a piece of wood 22. (v.82)<\/p>\n Those near to me are 23. (v. 83) 24. (v.91)<\/p>\n You read the sky and 25 (v. 106)<\/p>\n When you make two one 26. (v.108)<\/p>\n Drink from my mouth – be 27. (v.111)<\/p>\n Does not Jesus say, A friend gave me the Gospel of Thomas (early non-canonical gospel) to read, and it just cried out to be made into haiku. I wrote the original 21 haiku one evening (1 August 2002) while reading through Craig Schenk’s version … Continue reading
\nFinding, wonder; wondering, reign,
\nReigning, you shall rest.<\/p>\n
\nYourselves, in poverty you
\nDwell – and it is you.<\/p>\n
\nPlain before your face; hidden
\nThings are then revealed.<\/p>\n
\nNothing that you hate; Heaven
\nSees all things plainly.<\/p>\n
\nUpon the world, and guard it
\nUntil it blazes.<\/p>\n
\nAngel? Philosopher? Or
\nCan your mouth not say?<\/p>\n
\nEar has heard, eye has seen, hand
\nHas touched, or mind grasped.<\/p>\n
\n“What will be our end?” – Have you
\nFound the beginning?<\/p>\n
\nAnd become my disciples
\nThese stones will serve you.<\/p>\n
\nInside is like outside, you
\nEnter my kingdom.<\/p>\n
\nOf light, lighting up the world –
\nThat is where I am.<\/p>\n
\nBrother – love him as your soul.
\nGuard him like your eye.<\/p>\n
\nI found all of them drunk, and
\nNone of them thirsty.<\/p>\n
\nWhen you strip like small children,
\nWithout shame or fear.<\/p>\n
\nIn this one house, they can say,
\n“Mountain, move away.”<\/p>\n
\nAre you the light? No, but you
\nAre the light’s children.<\/p>\n
\nYour Father in you? It is
\nMovement and repose.<\/p>\n
\nIs the one who has suffered
\nAnd in it found life.”<\/p>\n
\nThemselves persecuted – know
\nTruly the Father.<\/p>\n
\nWhat will save you – or, if not
\nBrought forth, will destroy.<\/p>\n
\nAnd I am there. Lift a stone,
\nAnd you will find me.<\/p>\n
\nNear the fire – those far from me
\nFar from the kingdom.<\/p>\n
\nThe Father will be
\nManifest, but his image
\nIs concealed by light.<\/p>\n
\nThe earth, but do not know him,
\nThe one before you.<\/p>\n
\nYou will become sons of man,
\nAnd move the mountain.<\/p>\n
\nLike me; I will become you
\nAnd reveal mysteries.<\/p>\n
\n“Whoever finds himself is
\nBetter than the world?”<\/p>\n
\nFinding, wonder; wondering, reign,
\nReigning, you shall rest.<\/p>\n
\nYourselves, in poverty you
\nDwell – and it is you.<\/p>\n
\nPlain before your face; hidden
\nThings are then revealed.<\/p>\n
\nNothing that you hate; Heaven
\nSees all things plainly.<\/p>\n
\nUpon the world, and guard it
\nUntil it blazes.<\/p>\n
\nAngel? Philosopher? Or
\nCan your mouth not say?<\/p>\n
\nEar has heard, eye has seen, hand
\nHas touched, or mind grasped.<\/p>\n
\n“What will be our end?” – Have you
\nFound the beginning?<\/p>\n
\nAnd become my disciples
\nThese stones will serve you.<\/p>\n
\nInside is like outside, you
\nEnter my kingdom.<\/p>\n
\nOf light, lighting up the world –
\nThat is where I am.<\/p>\n
\nBrother – love him as your soul.
\nGuard him like your eye.<\/p>\n
\nI found all of them drunk, and
\nNone of them thirsty.<\/p>\n
\nWhen you strip like small children,
\nWithout shame or fear.<\/p>\n
\nIn this one house, they can say,
\n“Mountain, move away.”<\/p>\n
\nAre you the light? No, but you
\nAre the light’s children.<\/p>\n
\nYour Father in you? It is
\nMovement and repose.<\/p>\n
\nIs the one who has suffered
\nAnd in it found life.”<\/p>\n
\nThemselves persecuted – know
\nTruly the Father.<\/p>\n
\nWhat will save you – or, if not
\nBrought forth, will destroy.<\/p>\n
\nAnd I am there. Lift a stone,
\nAnd you will find me.<\/p>\n
\nNear the fire – those far from me
\nFar from the kingdom.<\/p>\n
\nThe Father will be
\nManifest, but his image
\nIs concealed by light.<\/p>\n
\nThe earth, but do not know him,
\nThe one before you.<\/p>\n
\nYou will become sons of man,
\nAnd move the mountain.<\/p>\n
\nLike me; I will become you
\nAnd reveal mysteries.<\/p>\n
\n“Whoever finds himself is
\nBetter than the world?”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"