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

Carpe Diem Tan Renga Challenge #43, Basho’s “The Old lady cherry”

Photo credits: Sara Desjardins Photography – Toronto

At Carpe Diem Haiku Kai, our task was to take Basho’s “The Old-Lady Cherry” and add two lines in approximately 7-7 for tan renga. Here is the original poem and chèvrefeuille’s example:

the old-lady cherry

in bloom: a remembrance

of her old age

a day to celebrate

the first cherry blossoms

revel in ornate hues

time enhances your splendour.

Submitted for: Carpe Diem Tan Renga Challenge #43, Basho’s “The old lady cherry”

Taking Sides – LindayGHill’s SoCS – July 17

Taking Sides

The prompt for Stream of conciousness Friday is “Side”. Linda G Hill has asked us to write using this word alone, as a preface or suffix…just write as long as your stream consciousness stops, then link to her blog here.

There are many sides to a situation or a story. How many times have you heard a news bulletin telling the public the sensationalistic side of an event omitting other aspects that shed a different light to that event?

I am also reminded of children when parents are separating and how often they seem to shed blame on themselves. So many children seem to feel if they were nicer, quieter or more obedient, somehow their parents would still be together? That is certainly not true but still many children feel this inside the core of their souls.

Moving along on this same topic, friends and family often feel they need to take sides when a marriage breaks up. Friends may feel awkward and think they can’t be friends with one spouse if they hang out with the other spouse. But what if they were good friends as a couple? Wouldn’t it make sense to nurture and continue this friendship with each person? And yet, so many feel they have to take sides.

I have also noticed that couples feel uncomfortable when they hear of a break-up of a relationship. It is as if they are faced with a side of themselves {or their relationship} they prefer not to examine. Why not? Maybe it is a perfect opportunity to embrace the love they have in their relationship. Perhaps it is an occasion to work on some aspects of their relationship if they feel it is a bit rocky. But for goodness sakes, folks, another couple’s break-up is NOT contagious…you can see talk to her or him. If anything, this is a time they need a friend and compassionate listening ear. So stop taking sides and ask yourself, how would you feel and how would you like to be treated if you were no longer in your relationship? This is where you will see the true sides of a friend alright; the kind, compassionate side or the cautious, weary side; then again would it be the self-righteous, holier than thou side? One cannot judge another person for their choices in life unless they have truly walked a mile in their shoes.

Ride home (haiga)

Train runs on time

chasing clouds on the run

whistle blows.

clouds etched in the sky

bales of hay set out to dry

one dark cloud taunts

lightness dims

sun bows gracefully

almost home

darkness greets me solemnly

city lights wink high above.

Getting out or Getting Away (SoCS July 12’14)

Originally written July 14^th for SoCS, Getting out or Getting Away

Getting out or getting away are two very defined activities. The first is to treat yourself, to go out with a friend or your significant other; perhaps it is a night out clubbing, dancing or bar hopping…whatever your pleasures may be that is what “getting out” means to me.

Getting away is distancing perhaps from family, friends, or BOTH! Maybe it’s going on a long overdue trip to recharge those weak Duracell batteries.

This past week I had planned to get away to do something for me. I needed to recharge my rechargeable batteries but anything “local” or “ordinary” just would not be able to replenish those batteries.

I had not taken a real vacation in a hotel…a “getaway” since 2002 when I went to San Francisco with a significant other or later that year my solo trip to Orange County.

So, overdue you say? Yes, indeed! Not wanting to just getaway to just read on a beach {I can read just fine at home and pop in a CD of ocean waves}…granted I would miss breathing in the salt air…but still. I was itching for something more and my body, mind, soul and heart ALL needed a good reboot.

So my getaway was a retreat but not just “OMing” for three to four days…no siree, it was jam packed with music, colours, dancing, joy, pure unconditional love and messages of peace and love. I know, I know, some of you reading are shaking your heads thinking, oh that hippie stuff. Granted, I do come from that era, but I was never EVER a true hippie. I just liked to dress like one. I always stayed pretty close to home until I was 45! So call me a late bloomer.

The days filled with lots for the active mind but no pressure to join anything. Meditation training broken down in digestible slots, music until the wee hours of the morning…orations of depth and the messages that attracted me to begin with love and compassion. It felt like coming home.

Now when can one “getaway”, refuel the mind, the heart and the soul in 4 days? Okay the body lagged a bit with 5a.m. celebrations. But my other three elements made up for it!

Delight (haiku)

Clipart – Caterpillar

Little boy entranced

stares in his sandbox

eager ants

tickled, he giggles

reaching up to scratch his face

caterpillar smiles.

Carpe Diem 516,(Issa) Skylight

City traffic (tanka)

back to the city
sounding my mantra
what a calm drive
city traffic starts havoc
chanting prevents road rage

Haiku Horizons prompt “drive”

Pure love

baby wrens chirped

mother encouraged her young

time to fly

the most frail hesitated

pure love gave him confidence

Wednesday

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Spontaneous photos (Pixelventures July 8th’14)

This week Bastet suggested we be spontaneous and photograph on impulse. Well, today, I had to get some cat food at Safari which is an elaborate pet shop. I buy my fish there and would often go there for an hour or so with my grandson on rainy days. It is across the street from the Mall near me and it is really a lovely experience going there.

So today, I walked in and pretended to look at my smart phone for messages. My flash was not on and figured, I had time to take a few pics. I would have loved to get the turtles and fish with the waterfalls but I started with the birds…probably not the greatest ideas as I was way too close to staff. Within a few minutes and about 10 shots, I was told we are not allowed to take photos in the store. Well, gee, I played dumb and looked forlorn and then mosied up to the cat food and completed my purchases. So here are my shots taken on impulse I tell ya, one of the cockatiel was talking to me and the other wanted to sleep…the looked like the odd couple.

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I wanted to post these while I still have time. May be a bit busy the rest of the week. My favourite is the first one.

Submitted for: Pixelventures July 8 2014 Spontaneous

Garden of love (tanka)

At Carpe Diem this week, the Ghost Writer #16, is Jen of Blog It or Lose It on ”Tanka by Shiki”. Not surprising she did her research and did justice to the poet Masaoka Shiki. I encourage you to read more here and read more haiku and tanka by Shiki, Jen as well as Kristjaan.

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As my evening was ending, I was reflecting on gardens and wondered what I would write to contribute to this beautiful post. I could not help but think of my own garden I have created over the years, seen the seedlings blossom and nurtured them to maturity. I even saw them multiply into grand blossoms.

And yet, it’s not as if I have a family of ten children but I do consider my family as a garden that we weather through the seasons with joy and hard work but mostly with love. As a gardener toils in his garden, the labour is fueled by love.

Summertime, I am reminded of my past summers watching my children play in parks, soccer and soft ball games, swimming and sailing at the lake at our summer camp. I am also reminded of the work I still do working with youths and realize that I do continue to garden in my own way; and to me as well, it IS a labour of love.

summer breathes new life

parks fill with busy children

working in their garden

mud pies and sand castles

swings and slides bud acrobats.

Tonight is the eve before I leave for my vacation. My son came over for a visit and we went out for a nice dinner and came back here and watched a movie which I had recorded, Star Trek; I had saved this movie to watch with my son…a movie experience is always richer when shared with a loved one, non?

dinner and movie

marks the start of summer break

with pleasant company

blossoms of my own garden

shared good times ‘til twilight

So although this prompt was in honour of gardens and flora, I hope this offering fits as well.

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