Tonight at work I was scheduled for four hours of Live Chat which means I usually put on my noise canceller headset and listen to music to avoid the distraction of counsellors on the phones. What a joy!! They say that taiko drums ward off evil spirits. I woke up this Monday morning with the “moody” blues, so I have to say there may be a lot of truth to the power of these drums.
sailing past Sado
rocking to the sound
taiko throbbing
taiko throbbing
young and old dance to the beat
free spirits
***
beat of the drums
match the pounding
against his chest
feel the heat
pulsating through her veins
beat of the drums
The first St-Patrick`s Day parade was celebrated in Montreal in 1759, three years before the start of New York’s well-known parade, in 1762. Rain or shine, snow or sleet, the parade has run consecutively each year since 1824. My great grandfather arrived from Ballybunion, Ireland in Montreal after the Great Famine and was one of the organizers of the St-Patrick’s Day Parade.
It has also been voted by the National Geographic one of the top 10 St. Patrick`s Day celebrations in the world! This does not surprise me. St-Patrick’s Day celebrations are times when politics are set aside and the French and English speaking people parade in the streets of Montreal, Irish pubs are filled with revellers singing, dancing and drinking various ales and draughts …of course there is a lot of green beer too; servers are dressed in costumes dated back to the 19th century.
St-Patrick`s Basilica in Montréal opened on March 17th in 1847 and this church has an even more significant meaning to me as my father’s cousin, Father Michael O’Donnell gave his first mass at St-Patrick’s Baslilica in 1979…a very solemn and moving moment for friends and family.
Wikimedia.org (Montreal St-Patrick’s Day Parade
As a young child, St-Patrick’s explanation of the Holy Trinity made so much sense…
I often write about the cherry blossoms at Stanley Park in Vancouver. My first trip there, I met a lovely Japanese couple at the airport on my arrival. It was early April, and they encouraged me to visit Stanley Park, proudly telling me how the Japanese government has donated many cherry trees to Vancouver. I’m so glad they told me and was so enthralled by the beauty of a park situated by the Pacific Ocean, bursting with pale pink flowers throughout the park.
..
I learned later that High Park in Toronto has many cherry trees. “How could I have missed that?” I scold myself, having lived so close to that park for thirteen years. It was only when I moved back to Montreal did I hear of these cherry trees.
Carpe Diem is more than just a website or a daily writing prompt…it is a way of life with a mentor who patiently guides us with many seasoned members who also generously share their gift. I can feel the family connection and encouragement among members. I learned so much from these experienced siblings.
But this past year, has been a place that lifted me when I felt down, allowed me to write through my grief when my mom passed and enabled me to find my voice and my place. Happy New Year, Chèvrefeuille and Haijins!
un nouvel an semant nos graines d’inspirations une récolte familiale
a new year sowing seeds of inspiration a family harvest
Gazing at the blood moon turning red during the lunar eclipse, she was mesmerized to see how the sun reflected the colours of our earth, such a rich red-brown beauty in the sky.
trees in garished robes hues of reds fall silently – moon holds centre stage
I was inspired after reading Magical Mystical Teacher in “Door”.When I saw that photo, my heart was drawn to it since I love doors and my mind wandered to a place a few years ago attending a recital in an old church where this amazing musician allowed her fingers to float over her harp like an angel of grace. And so I used MMT’s last haiku as the Troika which is the sleigh, the base haiku from which I am starting to write thistroiku
Troiku is a new haiku form created by Chèvrefeuille, a Dutch haiku poet, you can see instructions at his blog, Carpe Diem Haiku Kai where he posts haiku memes every day.
Tournesol dans un Jardin 
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