between seasons – Troibun (August retreat ’17 – departure 26)

I don’t think I appreciated August as much as I have for the past few decades. Summer was a time to play, unwind and of course be out of school. Once August came around the corner, winds picked up, thunder storms increased and the temperatures became a bit cooler especially the nights. I remember as a child and teenager, thinking that school would be starting soon and that brought me down. I enjoyed school but not getting up early in the morning. I think I have always been a night owl.

Even as a mother, I did not like August because I knew there would be less free time to just chill with the kids…that I would not have to be more disciplined and organized, making sure the children got off to school before I went to work. All the stores had sales on school supplies and schools were sending in their required list for the new year. Spending time in stores to get new clothes as well and not knowing if the children will want to wear them by October if it is not trendy enough for their peers.

Once the children were out of school and working, August changed…it was as if summer was lasting a lot longer…I could enjoy the summer until September 22nd!! And then looking forward to the burst of autumn colours! What is depressing about that?! No, I really seem to have missed on appreciating this time of year but no more.

(c)Clr’17

(troiku)

midsummer blues
August bursts with such wonder
embrace the present!

midsummer blues
thinking of tomorrow
visions of decay

August bursts with such wonder
flowers at their peak
still so much to see

embrace the present!
worrying about tomorrow
robs you of today

A troiku is a new form of haiku created by Chèvrefeuille at CDHK

Written for August Retreat 2017 “Departure” at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai

Isle of Chrisanthemum (haibun)

Check out my recent post,

Isle of Chrisanthemum at TournesolDansUnJardin

at BlogSpot.

Bones (senryû)

Originally posted at my blogspot at Tournesol dans un jardin, Bones

Bones

wildflowers
emerald blankets covering
beds of bones

beds of bones
sounds of wailing children
haunting the night

haunting the night
smell of death and venom
barbarians’ breath

Couples (Carpe Diem – Tan Renga Challenge #47 “How rare the sight”

This prompt is a tan renga challenge. Our host, Chèvrefeuille at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai, has chosen a haiku written by Magical Mystical Teacher (MMT).

It was her response on this haiku by Basho:

how rare!
on leaving the mountain
the first eggplant

MMT’s response haiku was the following:

how rare the sight—
yellow blossoms brushing
the sky with light

now we are to write a tan renga two lines of 7 syllables to this haiku. Our host`s tan renga is here:

how rare the sight—
yellow blossoms brushing
the sky with light (MMT)
I always will love her
underneath the Laburnum (Chèvrefeuille)

I struggled with various responses because I had several images of “yellow blossoms” from my personal life. So I broke it down to two and here they are:

Across the street from the church at my hometown, there is a small garden by the river, with various flowers. I remember taking a picture in June of the lovely yellow lilies and wished I could come back later in the summer to catch the flora at its peak in blossoming. Well, I did not but here is snapshots from June.

how rare the sight—
yellow blossoms brushing
the sky with light (MMT)
Across the church, newly weds
yellow lilies cheer them on.
(c) Tournesol ’14

Of course there are also lovely daisies and sun roots in my friend’s garden in Bromont facing several mountains. This is where we went to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary last Sunday. A huge tent was pitched next to the Willow tree…what a lovely day celebrating such a lovely couple. To this day, I have never met a loving couple like these two people. You can feel the love they share. They still cuddle and always hold hands sitting close together.

how rare the sight—
yellow blossoms brushing
the sky with light (MMT)
Underneath the Willow tree
sun roots scan the mountains.
(c) Tournesol ’14

Originally posted at Tournesol dans un Jardin

Carpe Diem Tan Renga Challenge #47, MMT’s “how rare the sight”

river critters (Carpe Diem Tackle it Tuesday)

Photobucket

I used to love spending time at my GrandMaman’s house who lived by the river. I would spend mornings and afternoons on the dock, lying on my tummy watching the minnows swirling in circles and catfish jumping up now and then. I could never eat a catfish because they were like friends…pets to me. And the minnows would tickle my hand in the water and my ankles if I dared put my feet in the water. I say dare, because we were not allowed to venture in the water without an adult. I don’t ever remember disobeying that rule either. When I think of the freedom we had then that most children do not have today, I was pretty lucky to spend all that time alone with these little critters.