November 14, 1964
Dear Patricia:
Hope you had a wonderful time in San Francisco!
Here are my latest haiku. Incidentally I’m learning a lot about haiku by reading. “An Introduction to HAIKU, An anthology of poems and poets from Basho to Shiki” With translations and commentary by Harold G. Henderson.
I
Dry soil, growing wetness
Green grass velvet thickens
On hills and fields
Rains have come.
II
Insects with flowers evolve
Bright spirit senses poetry
Presence of Patricia
III
Skies drear; clouds float
And gather
Rains come; all life revives
California autumn
IV
Knowledge dispenser sees one face
Grace glows; heart leaps
Poetry of presence
Still bewitched
Carl
[page 2] I got my usual lift from just seeing you at the Indian Festival of lights. I’m so glad that you had a chance to see and enjoy this beautiful program – Dilawi. The real beauty in it was the people – especially the Indian girls & women in their lovely soris. Dark skinned people wear colors with such elegance! But, in sheer beauty – in sari, star on forehead, & nose ornaments – all elegant things, you would have excelled any one there. I sat next to a group of Indian students (graduates) & profs. (?) from Stanford. Also an American realtor from Sunnyvale who was born & reared in India. (Parick Keane) The one next to me – name Joshi (pronounce zoshi) and I share acquaintance & friendship of Mrs. K. L. Dixit, proprietress of Indian Art shop in Palo Alto. I knew her when she was an undergraduate at San Jose State years ago and her husband (thought they were not yet married at the time) when he was a pre-med student at Stanford. He was Brahmin; she belonged to the Merchant Caste – no barrier to marriage in this country. His funds were limited – wouldn’t go as far in the U.S. as in India, so he gave up his dream of medicine & became an importer of Indian arts & crafts. Ultimately they became American citizens – much respected & beloved citizens of Palo Alto. Had one daughter, Shela, a beautiful & highly intelligent girl – one of my niece Sandra’s friends. She married a young physicist (Patel-surname). They now live in New Jersey. Mr. Dixit died just before Neva did – from a bursted aneurism (dilatation of artery) in his brain. Mrs. Dixit – Rama – lives in Palo Alto & continues business.
Two more Haiku
V
Rain washes smog from sky
Sun turns late drops to jewels
New beauty born
VI
Indian wedding – lovely people
More beauteous still – Patricia.
See you Monday in class & hopefully later in week for dinner.
Ma Fiele(?) incomparable
Carl.
Dr. Carl Duncan and Patricia Whiting Collection (SJSU)
