The Hippie Blog

Writings From The Author Of The Hippie Dictionary

April 03, 2024

Haiku

 

 

March 1, 2024

 

This book has never been published. The original art and haiku,

 

here as you see it, were done in 1972-73. I have not changed or

 

deleted any of the manuscript including the name of my publisher at

 

that time. Celestial Arts was a San Francisco publisher and produced

 

my posters, note cards and a large book of photographs, The People’s

 

 

In the late 1960s and early 70s I was an advertising executive, writer,

 

art director and account executive in top-10 ad agencies. By 1973 I

 

had already published the photographic book, and over a dozen

 

posters and note cards.

 

Since that time, I have, become the authority on the generation that

 

questioned authority. I am the author of The Hippie Trilogy comprised

 

of, The Hippie Dictionary, now distributed by Crown/ Random House

 

published in 2002, Common Sense and Reason Again in 2020, and

 

Mother’s Heart, Father’s Mind, The Sexual Revolution Of A Young

 

Man, 1955 to 1985, published in 2021.

 

                                    John Bassett McCleary

   

January 4, 2024

This book is being printed for the first time now. The original art and haiku, here as you see it, were done in 1972-73. I have not changed or deleted any of the manuscript including the publisher at that time. Celestial Arts was a San Francisco publisher and produced my twelve posters, note cards and a book of photographs, The People’s Book.

In the late 1960s and early 70s, I was an advertising executive, writer, art director and account executive in top-10 ad agencies. By 1973 I had already published a large photographic book, The People’s Book, and over a dozen posters and note cards. For a time, I was the most highly paid photographer in California. Since that time, I have, I think, become the authority on the generation that questioned authority. I am the author of The Hippie Trilogy comprised of, The Hippie Dictionary, now distributed by Crown/ Random House published in 2002, Common Sense and Reason Again in 2020, and Mother’s Heart, Father’s Mind, The Sexual Revolution Of A Young Man, 1955 to 1985, published in 2021.

 

This haiku book is a period piece and a turning point in the mentality of the human race.

For a year in 1972 and 1973, I stopped writing or reading anything except haiku. I mostly walked, rode my bicycle, or hitchhiked and vowed never to ride another elevator. Eventually, I had to elevate and traverse by transportation vehicles again, but the experience brought me back down to a basic human being.

 

I wish to extend my appreciation to Candice Tahara for her calligraphy, Margie Lynch for computer technology, and dedicate this book to all the people who have left an impression on the fields of my life.

 

 

This little book is now published by Slow Limbo Publishing

 

Two new haiku for this age:

 

Man has destroyed earth

So the earth must be reborn

Without man this time

 

The earth is choking

The Heimlich will do the job

Out pops humankind

 

 

the moon in fullness

tomorrow it will begin

to empty again

 

 

upon your body

the warming sunrays playing

upon my body

 

 

narrow grows our path

now through dark woods we must walk

closer together

 

 

the sky shimmers through

little windows in the ground

shaped like mud puddles

 

 

moon upon the pond

frightened by a jumping frog

scatters in the reeds

 

 

my child’s upturned face

the sun comes and goes and leaves

spots upon her nose

 

 

spring grasses trampled

and leaving the impression

lovers have been here

 

 

from puddles of rain

parents frown as they extract

children of laughter

 

tiny bugs of brown

do you fight or do you love

grappling on the ground

 

the frogs at the pond

beckon me down yet always

greet me with silence

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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