At a very young age (43) I came to the realization that (pending a few patents) we humans are limited to a just a single planet, and it is our responsibility not to totally trash it. Moreover, we share the Earth with more than 30 different kinds of animals, and nearly as many birds and fish-things.

Unlike some people who limit their efforts to saving creatures and habitat, I have taken a more proactive approach. The good people of Halpert Life Sciences (and their evil colleagues) are hard at work perfecting new creatures that will be robust enough to survive on a warming planet, along with some that are just plain cute.

Naturally science is not without its risks, I’ve already apologized for “The Vampire Penguin Incident” and suspect that before too long I’ll be contrite about “Scorplion” too.

All this is preamble to the business of the day, eight new haiku for The I Ching Haiku Project, this set inspired by the Animal Kingdom.

Zoology

*

49/64

|¦|||¦

Zoo renovations
spell an end to polar bears
on white-painted rocks

*

50/64

¦|||¦|

On the ocean floor
is a dark boiling cauldron
evolving new life

*

51/64

|¦¦|¦¦

Fingers tap on glass
koala opens one eye
and then flips me off

*

52/64

¦¦|¦¦|

A lump in his throat
python denies knowledge of
the missing zoo vet

*

53/64

¦¦|¦||

Regretting his choice
he shuffles on through the pack
sheep in wolf’s clothing

*

54/64

||¦|¦¦

Short-sighted penguin
makes amorous advances
to bewildered nun

*

55/64

|¦||¦¦

Amoeba census
becoming more difficult
exponentially

*

56/64

¦¦||¦|

Flying overhead
observing the sorry scene
an albatross soars

*

Well, that was the penultimate set of eight. I feel as though I should be feeling either exhausted or euphoric, but no. The pervading feeling is one of boredom, perhaps a dab of ennui too. How are you doing? The fact that you’ve read all the way to the bottom of the page is probably a warning sign. It might be prudent to go outside and get some air.

I’m only thinking of your health.

Good day,

Carlton

☰ ☱ ☲ ☳ ☴ ☵ ☶ ☷

You know the drill by now. Here are the eight hexagrams that were the carrion upon which the haiku above fed greedily.

• 49/64. |¦|||¦ Revolution, Abolishing the Old
• 50/64. ¦|||¦| Holding, The Cauldron, Establishing the New
• 51/64. |¦¦|¦¦ Shake, Arousing, Mobilizing
• 52/64. ¦¦|¦¦| Bound, The Keeping Still, Immobility
• 53/64. ¦¦|¦|| Infiltrating, Development, Auspicious Outlook
• 54/64. ||¦|¦¦ Converting, The Maiden, The Marrying Maiden
• 55/64. |¦||¦¦ Abounding, Abundance, Ambition Achieve
• 56/64. ¦¦||¦| Sojourning, The Wanderer, Travel