{"id":9842,"date":"2008-08-30T14:36:00","date_gmt":"2008-08-30T19:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/?p=9842"},"modified":"2012-04-28T10:36:53","modified_gmt":"2012-04-28T14:36:53","slug":"were-celebrating-yu-changs-70th-birthday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/2008\/08\/30\/were-celebrating-yu-changs-70th-birthday\/","title":{"rendered":"we’re celebrating Yu Chang’s 70th Birthday"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a> . . . HAPPY BIRTHDAY to YU! . . . \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

dewdrops
\nI count
\nmy blessings<\/p>\n

\u2026.. by Yu Chang<\/a> – from Upstate Dim Sum<\/em><\/a> (2003)<\/p>\n

T<\/strong><\/em>o the surprise of anyone familiar with his physical and mental vitality (and that cherubic face), Yu Chang is 70 years old today<\/em>.\u00a0 We couldn’t find a party room big enough for all his friends and admirers; and one weblog posting is not adequate to express the depth of our affection and breadth of our well-wishes for Yu.<\/p>\n

just long enough
\nto leave an impression
\ndragonfly<\/p>\n

\u2026.. by Yu Chang – Upstate Dim Sum<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

\"\" Yu Chang plays and lives many roles, including: husband, father of four, and grandfather; Union College<\/a> professor of electrical and computer engineering; accomplished haiku poet<\/a> and editor<\/a>; skillful and enthusiastic photographer<\/a>; avid chef and kayaker; tender of gardens (rock and floral); and — for especially lucky and undeserving ones like myself — generous, mischevous, and caring friend.\u00a0 No matter how he enters your life, Yu leaves a positive, lasting impression, with his intelligence and talent, empathy, sense of humor, and humility.<\/p>\n

Personal note<\/em>: Many good things have come out of my discovery and love of haiku.\u00a0 At the top of my haiku-related blessings is making the acquaintance and enjoying the friendship of my goombah<\/a> and bocce-mate<\/a> Yu Chang.\u00a0 As told in the post introducing Yu here at f\/k\/a<\/em>, “all poetics is local<\/a>” (May 27, 2005), I admired his poetry for several years before realizing that Yu lives right down the road from me here in Schenectady.\u00a0 He has become such an important part of my everyday life, it’s hard to believe it’s only been a few years since we met.<\/p>\n

As poet-editor John Stevenson<\/a> — Yu’s very good friend, frequent kayaking and dining companion, and Rt. 9 Haiku Club co-founder — wrote to me this morning:<\/p>\n

My life has been immensely enriched by my friendship with Yu. I wish him a happy birthday and a happy day after. I suspect that he would prefer less fanfare for the occasion but he will be gracious about our effusions of affection today.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> A couple days ago, I asked John and a few other haiku poet friends to contribute poems for Yu’s birthday celebration at f\/k\/a<\/em>.\u00a0 John sent back this revealing message:<\/p>\n

“So many of my poems remind me of Yu or relate to him in ways that might not be clear to others. I could make a collection consisting entirely of poems I\u2019ve written while kayaking with him and another of poems that reflect our summers in Maine. His editorial skill in producing our first sixteen issues of Upstate Dim Sum<\/em> has added something special to many another poem, which forever carries additional resonance as a result of his juxtapositions with the work of Tom Clausen, Hilary Tann, or Yu himself.<\/p>\n

Emblematic of Upstate Dim Sum<\/em> (because it first appeared there), of my friendship with Yu, and of the present occasion, the following poem comes to mind:<\/p>\n

marsh tide
\nturns around
\na lily<\/p>\n

Although not prone to produce on deadline (like so many other haiku poets I could name so often must do), John says:<\/p>\n

\"\" In order to honor the occasion, I have attempted to produce a few overnight poems; something that Yu is known for accomplishing on a regular basis. It\u2019s not my usual method, so I just hope that these are okay:<\/p>\n

overnight
\na few
\nfiercely red leaves<\/p>\n

our two autumns
\nboth of us
\ntravelers<\/p>\n

marsh explorers,
\nwe bushwhack toward
\nthe open water<\/p>\n

…. by John Stevenson<\/a> (written for Yu Chang’s 70th Birthday)<\/p>\n

– Ed. Note<\/em>: They’re definitely more than “okay,” John.\u00a0 As is the photo you took of Yu kayaking that we’re using with this posting. Many thanks.<\/p>\n

Ed Markowski<\/a> has long admired Yu Chang’s work and has heard about him and his personality from me over the past few years.\u00a0 Ed wanted to join our party today, and wrote a few poems this morning for Yu’s birthday.<\/p>\n

seven decades \"\"<\/a>
\nthe glow of a wind resistant
\nbirthday candle<\/p>\n

70 today
\nfather’s soft voice
\nstill stops us<\/p>\n

70
\nthe birthday boy lays rubber
\nwith the lawn tractor<\/p>\n

. . . by Ed Markowski<\/a> (for Yu Chang’s 70th Birthday)<\/p>\n

update<\/em><\/strong> (Aug. 31, 2008): Ed kept celebrating even after Yu went to bed last night:<\/p>\n

70 today
\nhis finger traces a trail
\nthrough the icing<\/p>\n

another year older
\nsunflowers frame
\nfather’s smile<\/p>\n

Most of my closest friends will be turning sixty in 2008 or 2009.\u00a0 And, frankly, some of us approach that number with a bit of anxiety over what all this aging might mean for our physical and mental capabilities.\u00a0 Seeing Yu at 70 gives me — and probably many others — a lot more hope about the possibilities for continuing to thrive as the decades slip by.<\/p>\n

Here’s what Tom Clausen<\/a>, another member with Yu in the 4-poet Rt. 9 Haiku Club, wrote in response to my request for poems to honor Yu’s 70th birthday:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> “I am honestly shocked by your message… I had heard Yu had a big birthday coming up and was not sure what age he is, but assumed he was turning 60… he is so incredibly young spirited, playfully wonderful a person that it hardly seems possible he could be 70, not that any age has to be thought of any particular way!”<\/p>\n

From Tom’s cache of haiku and senryu, he sent along quite a few to help celebrate Yu’s special birthday:<\/p>\n

in the attic
\nan old sleeping bag
\nrolled with childhood<\/p>\n

moonlight bright-
\na young woman there
\nstands in the swing<\/p>\n

out my childhood window
\ntree silhouettes
\ngrown up<\/p>\n

droning plane fades out…\u00a0 \"\"<\/a>
\nhow little difference it makes
\nwhat age I am<\/p>\n

flats of seeds
\nbeginning-
\nmeditation room<\/p>\n

beach walking…
\ncollecting pebbles
\nand letting them go<\/p>\n

Milky Way-
\na sprinkle of valley lights
\nway below<\/p>\n

… by Tom Clausen<\/a> and dedicated to his friend Yu Chang<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> Dagosan<\/em> was up all night baking a virtual birthday cake, so he didn’t have much time to pen new poems.\u00a0 These are offered with more than our usual humility:<\/p>\n

71 candles
\nthe smoke detector
\nsings along<\/p>\n

photo after photo
\nhe bends closer
\nto smell a rose<\/p>\n

birthday party —
\nafter dim sum
\na little bocce<\/p>\n

the stones chosen
\nthe stones
\nnot chosen<\/p>\n

sharing the last
\nmoon cake
\nautumn equinox<\/p>\n

.. by dagosan<\/em><\/a> (for Yu)<\/p>\n

\u516b \"\"<\/a> \u516b We all recently learned how lucky the number eight<\/a> is in Chinese society. As Yu Chang begins his eighth decade, all of his friends, fans and loved ones wish him 8X8 luck and longevity, with gratitude for our good fortune in knowing this special man. Other haiku poets who want to join the party are invited to add greetings and\/or poetry of their own (by email or in a Comment).<\/p>\n

— Pass this Party to friends with this easy URL: http:\/\/tinyurl.com\/YuChang70thBirthday<\/a><\/p>\n

afterwords<\/em><\/strong> (Sept. 2, 2008): Yu’s friend and fellow Route-9er Hilary Tann<\/a> was incommunicado<\/em> while I was putting this post together, but just wrote in to send her greetings and good wishes to Yu.\u00a0 Hilary offers this poem in tribute:<\/p>\n

old friends \u2013
\nsunlight plays
\nthrough the leaves<\/p>\n

… by Hilary Tann – Upstate Dim<\/em> Sum 6\/II<\/p>\n

Below the fold, Yu’s gift to us — a small sampler of his haiku and senryu. (Find many more by clicking the links on our Yu Chang<\/a> Archive Page.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

– Yu Chang – (Simply Haiku<\/em>, Modern Haiga<\/a>, Winter 2007) –<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

. . . for you from Yu Chang:<\/p>\n

vacant lot
\ndandelion fluffs
\nand children\u2019s laughter<\/p>\n

– from Upstate Dim Sum<\/em> (2004\/I)<\/p>\n

cutting the moon cake
\njust like my mother
\nMid Autumn Festival<\/p>\n

– Upstate Dim Sum<\/em> 2002\/I<\/p>\n

winter woods\u00a0 \"\"<\/a>
\nseeing myself
\nin black and white<\/p>\n

old passport
\nthe tug
\nof my father\u2019s smile<\/p>\n

\u201cwinter woods\u201d – Update Dim Sum<\/em> 2005\/1
\n\u201cold passport\u201d – UDS<\/em>, 2001\/II; The Loose Thread<\/em>: RMA 2001<\/p>\n

after the handshake
\nwe sit down for pasta
\nal dente<\/p>\n

– Frogpond<\/em> Vol. XXX:2<\/p>\n

winter evening
\na cafeteria tray
\nat the end of the slope<\/p>\n

. . . . Yu Chang – Upstate Dim Sum 2003\/I<\/p>\n

someone\u2019s hat
\nleft on a park bench
\nquiet afternoon<\/p>\n

fund drive
\nthe ivy covered building
\nhas a new name<\/p>\n

traffic jam
\na plastic dog
\nkeeps on nodding<\/p>\n

– Upstate Dim Sum<\/em> (2002\/II)<\/p>\n

she leans
\na little closer
\nladybug on my palm<\/p>\n

windless day –\u00a0 \"\"
\nkissing snowflakes
\non her hair<\/p>\n

dewdrops
\nI count
\nmy blessings<\/p>\n

– Upstate Dim Sum<\/em> 2003<\/p>\n

evergreens
\na long walk
\nwith an old friend<\/p>\n

French Open
\na couch potato
\npumps his fist<\/p>\n

– Upstate Dim Sum<\/em> (2005\/II)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

.. Yu’s front yard Rock Garden, with our Schenectady\u00a0 Central Park bocce forest in the background . . .<\/p>\n

grandpa\u2019s bocce balls \u2013 \"bocci\"<\/span>
\nthree generations
\nchoose sides<\/p>\n

.. by dagosan<\/em><\/p>\n

postscript<\/strong> (February 14, 2010): <\/em>I came out of weblog retirement today, to make a record here at f\/k\/a <\/em>showing that Yu Chang has been chosen as Poet of the Year for Vol. XI\/2009 in The Heron’s Nest<\/em><\/a> Readers’ Choice Awards.\u00a0\u00a0 It wasn’t even close this year.\u00a0 Here are the seven poems by Yu that appeared in 2009 at The Heron’s Nest<\/em>:<\/p>\n

what do I know
\nabout the untethered balloon
\nmy daughter\u2019s embrace<\/p>\n

. . . Editors’ Choice (Vol. XI, #1, March 2009)<\/p>\n

mountain lake
\nI paddle the moon path
\nto your cabin<\/p>\n

bearing down
\non a borrowed pen
\ndo not resuscitate<\/p>\n

…. Editors’ Choice (Vol. XI, #2, June 2009)<\/p>\n

distant thunder
\na revolutionary cannon
\ngreen with age<\/p>\n

stepping stones
\na dragonfly lands
\non my shoe<\/p>\n

dead end street
\nbougainvillea overflows
\nthe chain link fence<\/p>\n

cracked boulder
\nan acorn
\nsettles in<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

. . . HAPPY BIRTHDAY to YU! . . . dewdrops I count my blessings \u2026.. by Yu Chang – from Upstate Dim Sum (2003) To the surprise of anyone familiar with his physical and mental vitality (and that cherubic face), Yu Chang is 70 years old today.\u00a0 We couldn’t find a party room big […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":94,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1852,555],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9842","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-haijin-haikai-news","category-haiku-or-senryu"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6kP1R-2yK","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9842","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/94"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9842"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9842\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14351,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9842\/revisions\/14351"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9842"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9842"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9842"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}