At Virtual Haiku on Facebook, we are asked to write a haiku to the photo shown This inspired me to write several and so I decided to use one of my photos and add the haiku and one tanka below. Also the prompt at HaikuHorizons this week is coincidentally, dark.
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…
Humans are such creatures of habit. Well, at least in this part of the country. Weather is the most talked about topic…”It is too cold; it is too humid; Ow, my aching joints!.” As soon as November wraps us with a veil of dark bareness before the snow, we say, I hate winter that is coming. Depression has already set in for more of our Northern Canadians since October. The days are shorter and darkness haunts us. Soon people start chanting, “I can’t wait until it snows. At least it will be brighter.” And before December arrives, we often see snow. Everyone is more or less pleased especially the children and winter enthusiasts.
She has prepared her wardrobe accordingly so the long cold months will, at least, be filled with change and style. Four or five winter coats of different levels of warmth. A few extra pairs of boots add to the list and of course, cleats…a few extra pairs and always one pair in her backpack if the sidewalks are treacherous when she finishes her late night shift.
Then snow overstays its welcome in January and then February and March storms. Spring is around the corner, they say, but we all know that spring arrives when nature decides. That can be the end of March, mid-april or early May for those more North and East of here. All those months waiting for warmer temperatures.
Well, it has been quite warm this past week. On the weekend and yesterday temperatures went up to 32C with high humidity. Oh, she should know. She finally installed her A/C and has emptied 4 litres of water 4 times in 12 hours! Yes, indeed, the humidity is set in the house, the furniture, the clothes. People who struggle with allergies as she does, find it difficult to breathe and headaches and migraines attack the most vulnerable.
It is June 13th and still not quite summer yet another two months of higher temperatures and humidity. Now one would wonder why we complain about two to three months of warmer temperatures when many have whined and wished for warm weather for the past six months! But we hum and ho and whine and talk about the weather, “I was up most of the night because of the heat. I arrived at work drenched due to the heat. The bus is so hot and stinky…and even worse at the end of the day.” And so on and so forth
…
Why not look at the changes and embrace them, she says to herself on her way to work…
Daily Moments – June 13, 2017 breeding compassion (waka)
This waka (solo no renga and haiku/senryu) were inspired by Mystery, Adventure and Reward by Karuna’s post at LivingLearningAndLettingGo where she works tirelessly in the Greenbelt behind her home freeing the thumbleberry shrub from bindweeds (morning glory) and blackberry vines. This post reminded me of one thing, “if only only compassion ruled the world.” I’ve taken the liberty to post a few of her photos to illustrate the meaning of the poem.
On her way to work, she passes by a house with budding flowers and then she stops, takes a few steps back to admire a tree with flowers falling over the white picket fence.
Tournesol dans un Jardin 