Author: Tournesol

A little bit about moi: I am a mom, a nana, a sister, a woman, a friend, a human being…a youth counsellor, Family Life Educator. I have been working in the helping profession for over 25 years and volunteered in various capacities from youths to seniors. Tournesol is my nom de plume for haiku and other Japanese form poetry here at Tournesoldansunjardin https://cheryllynnroberts.wordpress.com I hope you enjoy reading through my daily waka. I also have another blog "Stop the Stigma" where I may stand on my soapbox now and then and hope it will become a place to drop in and share or comment on issues important to you. In that vein this could be a great way to learn from each other. http://stigmahursteveryone.wordpress.com

BJ Shadorma & Beyond – The Choka – December 13, 2014

A little Japanese history and talk about The Choka…

Georgia's avatarMindlovemisery's Menagerie

Hello Everyone!

First of all thanks to all of you who participated writing a Naani … you did a fantastic job!

This week I’m taking you back to Japanese history.  The form I’ve chosen to introduce is called the choka.  Choka were long, elegiac poems (in fact choka means the long poem) and the longest ran sometimes over 100 lines!  They were usually sung.

The classical choka is formed by writing 5-7 syllables couplets for as many lines  as you like ending however with an extra 7 syllable line. There have been variations over the years as to how to write a choka including modern attempts to revive the genre.

Now days when the form is used and interestingly it is often used by English haiku poets, it is used to tell a story, not necessarily an epic or commemorative tale – just a story.

Here’s one of my choka as…

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long journey (haiga)

(c) Clr "14
(c) Clr “14

long road

endless possibilities

outcomes unknown

(c) Tournesol <14

mystical illusions (tan renga)

© Clr '14
© Clr ’14

Frozen thoughts
remember eclipse
not sunlight © Brigitte

a dove hides above the clouds
evokes undying memories

sunsets
compensate for missed treasures
mystical illusions

© Tournesol ’14

Carpe Diem Tan Renga Challenge

I could not help but add this after reading Georgia’s completion:

Frozen thoughts
remember eclipse
not sunlight © Brigitte

afternoon stars shine
filling the world with awe © G.s.k. ’14

such wonders
heavenly ornaments
céleste du jour © Tournesol

mask of neutrality (tanka)

http://wpmedia.news.nationalpost.com/2013/09/signs.jpg

men and women
stripped of their human rights
heads must be bare
government jobs lost,
cow behind neutrality

© Tournesol ’14

To read more: National Post

Prompt: Heeding Haiku with Ha – Human Rights

After the snow storm (haibun)

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I took another long route to work today. After a snow storm, I love to see the trees covered with thick snow, many streets only one side is plowed. This reminds me when I drove to work at 6pm. I had to move my car to the other side so the snow plow could clear the street.  There was usually always a warning, a truck drives up ahead with flashing lights and honks to warn a few drivers to move their vehicle, otherwise they get a hefty ticket.

Today I was in awe at the parks and the trees. Of course I felt sorry for the cyclists because we have many avid winter cyclists who often have trouble finding their bike in the huge snow banks the snow plows created.  Today it was wet heavy snow and the streets were slushy. My feet were soaken wet…guess my boots are not as waterproof as I thought.

After the snow storm

Sopping city streets get messy

fairyland parks

~

night snow plows

craft high snow banks

ignoring cycles

© Tournesol ’14

Carpe Diem

first snow (haiku)

baby blues

stares up above

licking his lips

© Tournesol ’14

Carpe Diem

snow wonder (haibun)

 

Snow dust and icicles
© Clr ’14

Working today from home, I was blessed to be spared braving the winter storm we are having here in Montreal.  Although I would normally take public transit, I knew the walk on slippery and some slushy paths would not have been pleasant.

By the end of the day, I could see the rising temperatures had turned the snow to ice.  What beautiful images I saw as I admired the bare-branches-no-more, and tiny icicles hanging on like tear drops. I felt elation and a sudden gust of childlike wonder. For long moments, I could feel my grief dissipate, replaced by mild sparks of enchantment.

 

snow dust

coating bare branches

my grief went away

~ 

moments of joy

sheer mystic wonder

brushing my soul

© Tournesol ’14

Carpe Diem

message of serenity (haiga)

© Northern Lights - Alien Study
© Northern Lights – Alien Study

A young teen called once to say he wanted to take his life. Let’s call him Real.  He had seen too much sadness in his short years…abuse, death of a close friend and the pain weighed too heavily on him.  I knew he was calling from the far North and asked him if he often saw Aurora Borealis. “Why yes,” he quickly responded, “It is my ancestors telling me they are safe and happy in their world.  I am going to join them now.”

I asked him if his ancestors might also be asking him if he still had things to do on this land before travelling beyond to meet them. He paused a long moment…he later accepted to go to emergency and get help.  

I can never forget this youth for he phoned our service four days later to thank me, and that he was in hospital getting the care he needed.

multi-hues
whispering from beyond
a life of grace

ancestors
travelling on tinted vapours
call of serenity.

© Tournesol `14

Carpe Diem

fearless stride (haiga)

red hat
© Clr ’14

foggy moon
cold keeps us indoors, but
I braved the cold

I braved the cold
with my new wool red hat
dodged the cold

dodged the cold
fearless stride with studded boots
got me home safely

© Tournesol ’14

baby blues glowed (haibun)

Zappos.com

He was only 13 months old and could barely walk in his stiff white winter boots.  I took him out of his car seat.  I placed him on the huge parking lot at his father’s garage, that was filled with virgin snow.  He looked down and lifted one foot and saw his footprint in the snow; he froze with his baby blues widened, reflecting the light from the showroom.   He then started tiptoeing so as not to mess up the white powdery carpet.

Baby blues glow,

tiptoeing on white powder

pure enchantment

© Tournesol ’14

Carpe Diem timeglass