Poetry ~ Waka
bleeding red on blue
after a strawberry moon
arresting dawn
bleeding red on blue
graced with His magic
brush strokes transcend
after a strawberry moon
summer solstice delivered
a day of rest
arresting dawn
sunrise over endless fields
with bated breath
©Tournesol’17/07/07
sudden gust
before a thunder storm
fur balls dance
rolling under the sideboard
shedding winter clothes
© Tournesol’17/07/07
fragrant sake
cools the tongue
hot summer night
fragrant sake
lovers staring at the stars
glasses clink
cools the tongue
numbing senses
just a little
hot summer night
soft ocean breeze
goose bumps on her neck
©Tournesol’17/07/06
For years she prided herself with reading and watching the news all over the world. Then, 9/11 happened. It felt just too close to home. How could she continue practicing her profession and remaining genuine in her words and in her voice if she was, herself, alarmed at times?
And so she cut out many forms of media only limiting news when she sought it in cyberspace. This way she could make more room for her mind to think rather than be drawn into areas not of her choice.
Television was then cut out altogether and and writing emptied her mind of distracting thoughts until she learned to pray and meditate. Chanting her mantra allowed her to shut out distracting thoughts…travelling more alone…walks in nature alone…allowed her to take those first baby steps into “being”. She felt less alone in her solitude than in crowds of people. Now if only, she could sing as beautifully as those angelic youthful voices in a choir…
at the water’s edge
echoes of drumming
the river roars
voice turns to honey
chanting Lokah Samasta
daunting rapids
striking yet unassuming
splashing rocks
humming with every ripple
immersing feet with humility
the mind
lights up at any age
like an old well
clearing waterways
pouring life into the source
©Tournesol’17/06/25
Written for Carpe Diem Haiku Kai – “The Songs of Milarepa” (3) The Shepherd
[…] “Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.” […] © Rabindranath Tagore
Looking up
the story of my life
sky at sunset
looking up
traced with magenta ink
a sacred sign
the story of my life
etched in billowy stones
and living colour
sky at sunset
Shamballa in the making
like heaven on earth
©Tournesol’17/06/25
CDHK – Shamballa & Use That Quote
corydalis
blue raindrops on hillsides
wash away pain
bathing in nature’s bliss
soothing herbal remedies
blue tear drops
reflections of heaven
hanging by a stem
©Tournesol’17/06/10
on borrowed roots
magenta stems and feathered leaves
flowers blossom
nature’s herbal sedative
chasing man-made miseries
&
warrior’s plume
favour woodlands gracefully
nature’s beauty
©Tournesol’17/06/10
To read more about the medicinal properties of Pedicularis Densiflora click the link below:
Pedicularis Densiflora (Indian Warrior)
Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for his tireless daily meme and teaching us a little bit about the world each day.
A troiku is a new haiku form created by our host, Chèvrefeuille. I often write a tanka and take a step back for a moment or two and sometimes, convert it into a troiku.
This was my original tanka.
hopelessly waiting
sitting under the maple tree
looking for a sign
butterfly seeking nectar
oh, sweet melancholy!
childish yearnings
sitting under the maple tree
looking for a sign
childish yearnings
waiting for your presence
foolish desires
sitting under the maple tree
whence you’d sing me fables
melancholy breeze
looking for a sign
butterfly’s sipping nectar
candy-coated dreams
©Tournesol’17/06/08
Inspired by this waka by princess Kagami ; (7th century): This “waka” was written in response on a sedoka written by her younger sister Princess Nukada, the most famous female poet of her time.
Even a breeze may fail me
When I desire it.
Little I should grieve,
If only, sure of its coming,
I could await even a breeze.
© Princess Kagami
Our host’s contribution:
through tears
cherry blossoms scattered
by the breeze
© Chèvrefeuille
Inspired by this mantra: Om Mani Padme Hum, our host, Chèvrefeuille at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai asks us to write a haiku.
Oh! budding flower
with patience and diligence
graced with beauty
©Tournesol`17/06/05
The story Chèvrefeuille shares with us about the hermit reminds me of a personal story:
Years ago I learned this mantra reading Awakening the Buddha Within by Lama Surya Das, I practiced repeating this mantra for several months carrying with me the meaning of each word in a little notebook. This book allowed me to understand what is meant by “embracing your suffering” and it allowed me to accept and see a purpose to the pain was experiencing at the time…the lessons I was to learn.
I think we all learn differently and in stages unique to our own personal pace and styles. Three years ago I started again on my spiritual journey, first with writing which brought me closer to the Great Spirit and then meeting Amma who has simply opened my heart even more to God.
I wanted to share a story a friend of mine shared with me. I had told her that I felt uncomfortable chanting the lovely songs at my first retreat but loved to hum along and she said, she had shared her own concerns about this years ago with Amma. Amma told her, that a young child may sing and certainly does not always pronounce the works correctly but his heart is in the chanting and that is what counts. That encouraged me to continue singing with my heart (the Lord knows I do not have a singing voice) but I continue to chant my personal mantra as well as others that move me.
To read more on this mantra click here at Dharma Haven.
taste of nature–
sweet blackberry bushes
sing to child and bees © Sara McNulty
chubby smeared hands
chasing a blue butterfly ©Tournesol’17
Tournesol dans un Jardin 
