Twelve haiku for Stan Jackson OAM

BY MICHAEL THEOPHILUS DOM

battle fields divide,
ranks of men throw down their lives…
they will rise as one

in the aftermath
of war and through life’s changes –
hope for a new day

across the oceans
to a desert continent;
to build a new home

we have not heard tales
of the woman beside him;
from his we know hers

from one death, rebirth;
many new paths for a soul
to seek his own truth

rivers  flow apart;
in the salted ocean
they will meet again

high in the mountains
an old man leads a tour group…
on a bicycle!

a few broken ribs:
India is amazing,
as they say he was

a tale he told once;
he slept in a rice paddy
somewhere in Japan

once as enemies
they met across battle lines –
then he wrote them books

a great man we say,
but he was a good father
even before that

I know Keith Jackson
and that is now as good as
knowing Stan Jackson.

Comments

[Michio Nagamatsu]

I met Stan san when he visited Japan to ride through Japan. My Japanese Kanji book was sold in Sydney. He got it, and send me a letter.

Now I have no idea to contact Mr Keith Jackson family.

Mr Stan Jackson's book was translated in Japanese by me.

I'd like to contact with Jackson's family.

My Kanji book "Kanji for Everybody" was helped by Stan Jackson. And many libraries in Australia and other countries keep it.
_________

I remember Michio from the stories my father told. I have emailed him to let him know he hit the right spot to get in touch with the family - KJ