My mail-carrier brought the spring/summer 2008 edition of Moonset Literary Newspaper (Edition 4/No. 1) this afternoon. The twice-yearly newspaper “dedicated to offering in one publication, the poetic and visual studies of Japanese art forms,” has staffers, authors and artists from around the world, and is edited by an’ya. This edition, boasting 48 large pages, features several articles on “People Behind the Poetry.”
Here are offerings from the new Moonset by two of our Honored Guest Poets. Enjoy.
the sharp edge
of a bluegill’s fin–
spring becomes summer…… Andrew Riutta – Moonset 4:1 (2008)
autumn rain
a hopscotch loses
its eight………. Roberta Beary (3rd place tie, Moonset Haiku Contest, Ed. 4:1)
…………………………………………………………………… 
“Last Rites”
chest pains
breathing in
the sunsethospice bed
the get-well roses
stunted bloomthin sunlight
. . . eyelids flutter
in morphine sleepdeathwatch
the arrival of fresh
coffeeday of the obit
inside his wallet
me at eleven…………… by Roberta Beary – Moonset 4:1 (2008)
M
ning. . p.s. Moonwhile, if you have an opinion on the propriety of showing a little cleavage at a work dinner, drop by and opine at Scott Greenfield’s Simple Justice — see “Decolletage or Disaster?” (May 10, 2008), which discusses the Wall Street Journal column “Risky Business: Decolletage At a Work Dinner” (WSJ, by Christina Binkley, May 8, 2008). The f/k/a Gang is showing its age this afternoon: preferring napping than musing over cleavage. Kinda scary. Back in 2005, we did wonder about “too much disclosure?” in a posting featuring Erin Brockovich.
training bra
on the clothesline
half moonone button undone
in the clerk’s blouse I let her
steal my change
……….. by George Swede – from Almost Unseen (Brooks Books, 2000)
(larger)
fine print on her t-shirt –
she glares at me
for squinting…………. photo-haiga: senryu by David Giacalone; photo by Mama G. (1950)
orig. posted in grayscale at MagnaPoets Japanese Formin her silence
the tea kettle
announces winterhis headstone
rises with the moon
above the silencemy mistake
untangling the orchard
from your hair………………… by Andrew Riutta
“his headstone” – Full Moon Magazine (2005)
“my mistake” – Simply Haiku (Autumn 2005)
After revealing last week that our Central Library would close in a few weeks for up to 18 months as part of its expansion project (see our 
Of course, such minimal disruptions would have been incorporated into any reasonable construction plan from the start — to respect the needs and desires of the public and in line with the usual practices of contractors. So, I’m not about to fall all over myself praising the County for their quick, survival-0riented responsiveness to the will of the people. (Nor fall for Legislator Gary Hughes’ attempt to let us know the was “concerned” — but impotent? — from the start.) Bernard Allanson, who has to work with Library and County officials as the president of Friends of Schenectady County Public Library, was a bit more diplomatic than I feel like being today. The Gazette reported that:
“ ‘I would say that the public has had a significant impact on the Legislature. I applaud the Legislature for listening,’ he said.”
p.s. It is not all sturm-und-drang in Schenectady County this weekend. I want to express my love and gratitude to 
. . . Albany [NY] will be celebrating its 
. . update (May 10, 2008): At the 
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update (May 11, 2008): See our post “
Compromise Plan: It appears that County leaders (e.g., Kathy Rooney the County Manager, Susan Savage, Legislative Chair, and Gary Hughes, chair of the Legislature’s Library Committee) have heard the public outcry and are working on a compromise plan that would improve the way the Library’s current building is used (e.g., putting public space on the 2nd floor), and replace the operating systems, without changing the current shell of the building, and in a manner that will greatly reduce the period(s) in which the building will need to be closed. I have no idea how the Legislature could be accepting bids — or contractors crafting their bids — on the project before the revised plan is adopted.
“It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his job depends on not understanding it.” . . . 
At the bottom of this posting (
Want to express an opinion to our elected or appointed officials? Click 
Below [click “more” if you are on the f/k/a homepage] you will find links to articles and opinion from the Schenectady Daily and Sunday Gazette, and other source, concerning the closing of the Central Library, along with excerpts from the pieces. —
Another Boomer Braino Revealed: The f/k/a Gang had planned to start each month of 2008 by posting the month’s calendar page from both of our 2008 
Don Hutcheson, the Editor/Publisher of the online magazine 
What are we supposed to do tonight? Finish reading the newest TCL, or start preparing our 
Some of New York’s black-robed judges are engaging in their version of the 
Kaye, who after turning 70 will retire at the end of the year, in an e-mail Thursday cautioned them not to refuse to hear lawmakers’ cases as a form of protest. She wrote that “using recusal as a strategy rather than as a matter of individual conscience” would be perceived as retaliatory and weaken their cause.
Our rabble-rouser weblog friend Scott 
Hey, it’s Saturday afternoon, and thoughts of haiku (not court hi-jinx) should be on my mind. Before Mainichi News posts its May haiku offerings, here are a pair of poems from its April edition, by two of f/k/a‘s Honored Guests. I had planned to post these poems before I decided to write about the judicial slowdown. So, any resemblance to a judge dead or living is purely coincidental.
What sort of materials and links do your friends and colleagues 
With the snowballing 
Suddenly, and especially after reading the WaPo article, I was beaming. Roberta didn’t think I was over the hill and needed more naps or another rocking chair. She was reaffirming my being ahead of the curve (due, frankly, to the lessons learned living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) on the importance of napping to an enlightened and efficient life and career.
“Traditionally, we’ve begrudged ourselves naps. They may be forced on toddlers, recommended for pregnant women and tolerated among senior citizens with nothing better to do, but they’ve been frowned upon for worker bees in their prime. Recently, however, sleep scientists have discovered advantages to napping, which they view not just as solace but also as something akin to brain food. No longer written off as a cop-out for the weak and the bored, the nap is coming into its own as an element of a healthy life.”
And, “Elsewhere, the nap is winning friends and invigorating people. Some new studies make dramatic claims for it. Taken in the workplace, naps can increase productivity and reduce ‘general crabbiness,’ according to a just-concluded 25-year survey of the practice in industrial countries.” Nonetheless, Drabelle reports that, despite its honorable napping tradition, “In 2005, the Spanish government canceled the siesta for its employees, although it offered them flex time for easing into the new regimen.”
Looking Backwards: As much as I now appreciate Roberta sending me the WaPo nap article, I have to confess that the most enjoyable part of this episode was my discovery of who wrote the piece. Roberta did not know that Dennis Drabelle was one of my favorite colleagues at the Federal Trade Commission three decades ago, and we have sadly been out of touch for far too long. “Denny” and I worked in the Special Projects office of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition, for our friend 
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Better Blawg Browsing: We want to join Ted at 
