waiting room
a patch of sunlight
wears out the chairs
© Jane Reichhold
restless birds
flock safely before the storm
wildlife hide in wait
© Tourenesol’15/11/25
calm before the storm
Category: CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI
Beaver Full Moon (Haibun)
Walking home late a night one would think she should be frightened. But not tonight with the light of that bright moon. The moon was almost full under a clear sky. Tomorrow it will a perfect circle but she didn’t take a chance. “What if it rains? What if the sky is filled with snow clouds?” No, she would not take a chance and tries to capture the greatness of this moon. The air is cooler than the past few weeks and it smells like snow should be coming very soon. Yes, at minus 4C the next precipitations would surely snow.
She removes her leather gloves to manipulate her smart phone to take the photo. It is nippy and she can see her breath blow white smoke. On this long dark street filled with old warehouses of the 1940’s slowly transforming into funky lofts.
November full moon was called Full Beaver Moon or Full Frost Moon since it was a time when Native Americans would set their traps before the swamps froze. (Farmer’s Almanac)
Click…and off she continues on her journey home. Seconds before arriving, she notices her shadow in front of her was a fatter version of her, to her right was a paler shorter shadow and to her left a tall stretched out version of her. No, she has no reason to be scared on her walks home…she definitely has plenty of company.
Setting up traps
before water freezes over
Beaver Full Moon
Beaver Full Moon
accompanies her home
lights up her path
© Tournesol’15/11/24
Beethoven-Moonlight Sonata (Mvt. 1)
Sunday’s Concert (haibun)
Our host, Chèvrefeuille, at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai explains that “Tengri” means ‘sky worship’; haiku is part of Tengrism … look around you …. see the signs of nature and read them … just read them.
*****************
On her walk Sunday, she was attracted by the sounds of hundreds of birds chirping in several trees. Her head up she sees flocks of birds flying south. What were these birds doing in the trees. It was nippy that day as well with very cool winds. She regretted not having brought an extra sweater to put under her spring coat, better still, her winter coat would have been a much wiser choice.
So many birds were flying past this tree filled with birds. “Perhaps they are resting before flying further south,” she thought. She stopped to take in the concert and listen to the birds harmonize. Such wonder to stop for a moment and breathe in nature’s richness, even in a big city!
A collective
birds plan their long journey
gathered together
gathered together
sort out their pecking orders,
sing in harmony
sing in harmony
she listens with reverence,
nature’s grace
© Tournesol ’15/11/24
baies de genévrier (juniper berries)
gibier d’automne
recettes de Grandmaman,
baies de genévrier
baies de genévrier
assurent une meilleure digestion,
une bonne haleine
une bonne haleine
les baies de genévrier dotent
des bisous sensuels
des bisous sensuels –
s’effondre dans ses bras
quel long soupir!
© Tournesol’15
(translation)
autumn wild game
Grandmother’s recipes
juniper berries
juniper berries
insure better digestion
freshens breath
freshens breath
juniper berries rouse
sultry kisses
sultry kisses,
collapses in his arms
that long sigh
© Tournesol ’15
first snowfall (troiku)
Inspired by Ese’s haiku at CDHK
inevitable
the dance of a falling leaf
with a snowflake
***************
first snowfall
finally
sorrows veiled
first snowfall
leaves,
grief to rest
finally
lifts weight of shadows
balance restored
veiled sorrows
giddiness of snowflakes
pretence of joy
© Tournesol ’15
audition solenelle (haibun)
Ils avaient voyagé pendant deux jours et une nuit; la montée devenait de plus en plus téméraire. Ils se sont arrêtés dans les petits villages situés au long du chemin pour se reposer. En causant avec les villageois ils leurs demandaient conseils sur leur excursion jusqu’à l’Himalaya.
Un vieil homme était assis, les jambes croisées dans un petit cachot derrière le loge où ils ont été pour la nuit; il semblait en transe, endormi et rêvait peut-être. Les voyageurs ont été émus par le sourire éthéré sur les lèvres du vieillard.
l’intermède de l’ombre
quasi portée de la main
la danse des étoiles
© Tournesol ’15
running late (haiku)
running late,
circles the Ovoo just once,
crossing herself
© Tournesol ’15/11/20
solemn promise (haibun)
They had traveled for two days and one night, always climbing. They stopped in small villages along the way to rest a bit, talk with villagers and ask them advice on their journey up the Himalayas. An elderly man sat crossed legged in his tiny hut behind the cabin where they were lodged for the night. He seemed in a trance, sleeping and dreaming perhaps. The travelers were touched by the old man’s faint smile on his lips.
twilight’s first act,
almost close enough to touch
dancing stars
© Tournesol’15/11/20
I struggled with the haiku here are other drafts:
night draws its curtains
auspicious coryphée
stellar performance
or
night draws its curtains
coryphée is nigh
stellar ballet
or
twilight’s first act,
almost close enough to touch
dancing stars
or
night draws its curtains
auspicious coryphée
stellar ballet
nature’s wonderous mysteries (haibun –sort of)
Walking home last night she sees grey swirls elevated near the curb as she crosses the street. The first frozen puddle she has noticed in the city, autumn’s last month flirting with winter. She knows the days are numbered now. Leading towards the end of this season sometimes feels like walking towards a grave.
fallen to their death
leaves spread season’s quilt
tucking in the earth
Although logic knows the earth is not dead but asleep…napping for a spell, until spring, the dark of day lacking sunshine makes us feel this way on this cold day of November. Not only does nature seem somnolent but the sun as well, turning in so early.
sun bids farewell
yet, it’s only teatime!
autumn’s new soirée
No longer can one dine in the evening whilst they admire art displays in the sky. (sigh!) The artist too, has turned in earlier, skipping dinner and off to bed.
painting moods in blues
in the darkest hour
cleansing of new dawn
One can sometimes hear
In the darkest hour
awe celestial notes
message from the heavens,
still, she is not clear…
Nature has its mysteries, that she does not know; makes it all the more appealing, savouring the unknown.
whispers in her ear
playing sanguine notes
lighting up her soul
© Tournesol ’15
I think I may have gotten carried away here with poetic prose and turned a few sentences into haiku and tanka. I am still categorizing this as a haibun.
in the darkest hour (troiku)
This was inspired by Ese’s “in the darkest hour”
in the darkest hour
wishing upon the morning star
just like years ago
© Ese of Ese’s Voice
*************
in the darkest hour
melancholy calls –‘til dawn
chases it away
in the darkest hour
whispering rhymes
playing into prayers
melancholy calls – ‘til dawn
softly warms the heart
morning beckons hope
chases it away
darkness runs not far,
playing hide and seek
© Tournesol’15
Tournesol dans un Jardin 