Category: Photography

flowers or snow (haibun)

(c) Clr '15
(c) Clr ’15

This should be fun although  I love both kigo words  snowflakes representing weather my part of the world and the sunflowers being admired by my Aussie friends….lucky Sandy, Jen and Michael, I will write on both.

Snowflakes are pretty but when they stick to your lashes and the cold wind makes my eyes weep, well, it’s a dangerous combination, that’s all I’m saying.   Tonight I walked home in the bitter cold at minus 27 C and who knows with the wind chill…I was prepared with extra warm socks in sheep skin lined boots (Saute Mouton), layers of wool sweaters under my warm coat,  Gortex glove and mittens, cagoule under pilot hat and eternity mohair scarf…but my cagoule kept slipping leaving my face exposed to the frigid air.

snowflakes

on my lashes blind me

slipped on ice

*

frostbitten cheeks

snowflakes adorn the trees

fancy a sunburn

The sky was clear tonight with the odd cloud splashed here and there on that navy canvas and I knew it was the last night to savour this full moon.  I had to take a glove off my right hand to take a few photos with my smartphone since it works only with the heat of a hand….click, click until I could no longer feel my fingers…that was my warning to head into the warmth.  It was so worth the cold hand. The moon smiling down on me was as if my mom was somewhere nearby.

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This summer I hope to take more advantage of just relaxing and reading outdoors.  I tend to carry my tablet everywhere to write….but by a lake or pond would be  a nice change.  I look forward to that, and sitting a garden of daisies or sunflowers…or both!

 copy-sunflower-logo1.jpg

summer read

sitting  by the pond

sunflowers grow

*

sunflowers

become a part of me

 nom de plume

(c) Tournesol’15

MindLoveMiserysMenagerie with Heeding Haiku with HA

first full moon of the year (haiga)

cold winter night
hidden by the old elm tree
first grown-up kiss

~

hidden by the elm
old woman blind to carnal sins
full moon beams

© Tournesol `15

 

too much glitter (haiga or photoku)

20150104_182629_Android (2)

20150104_182754_Android (2)

sparkle trouble

cars whoosh by as I wait

bus stop

© Tournesol ’15

Photoku Challenge: word prompts “sparkles & whisper”

thriving souls (haibun)

This prompt made me think of the tall golden grass in the autumn. I wonder if I could have collected some and braided it, somewhat like our autumn decorations at Thanksgiving with dried corn cobs and long braided husks.

© Clr '15
© Clr ’15

Walking in the freezing yesterday, I noticed the long golden grass had frozen as if promises for Spring were frozen in time during the cold winter months. Perhaps winter is a time to percolate ideas and spring is to put some of these into action and fruition.

As we begin a new year, the Japanese culture adorns their front doors with sacred rope to ward off evil spirits…somewhat like protecting the hibernation of treasured thoughts, hopes and prayers.

© Tumblr Shimekazari

braided rice straw
hangs at the entrance
barring evil spirits

hangs at the entrance
open to abundance
budding souls

barring evil spirits
faith in the new year
holding treasures

© Tournesol ’15

Carpe Diem Sacred Rope

Frozen in time (haiga)

© Clr ’15
© Clr ’15
© Clr ’16

grassland
defies winter’s bitter frost
frozen in time

~

ice cannot bar
golden hues of straw
implies its strength

© Tournesol ’15

Snow turned to rain (haibun)

Well now despite the dangers of this weather, like over 150,000 residents in this province without hydro, the slippery roads in areas, the flooded streets in others and the dangers of walking on ice, slush, snow covered ice…it really is beautiful.  Hydro went out a few times for a few seconds, but I went to the store (hence the photos I took in the rain) and bought extra D batteries for my flashlight and extra large candle and all is set up in the dining room…just in case. It is when you are prepared these hiccups are least to happen, right?

The photo below is right in front of my apartment building. I kept hearing cracks, thuds, and bams and gazillions flops at once…snow falling from the branches and ice as well for the freezing rain turned to rain.

I still do not have the best waterproof boots…well, yes, they are but not 10 cm high, so I put on plastic bags before putting on my winter waterproof boots and came back home with nice dry feet.  I shall keep this up until the Sorel Boots go on sale.

2015/01/04 19:00
2015/01/04 19:00

 

reality looms
nature violates its course
vision of beauty

© Tournesol’15

Haibun thinking

New sun (haiga)

© Clr ’15

cat purrs
golden warm glow
new sun
~
new sun
early bird catches the worm
cat leers

© Tournesol ’15

Carpe Diem

new bond (haibun)

It was beautiful to see the patience a young child can have despite his age, his anticipation and yet, he managed it with eloquence. For a few years he would be so happy to see my cat at home so he could pet her, hold her and perhaps even play with her. The attempts were always short-lived and he would leave discouraged, certain that this picky feline did not like him. Try as I might to explain her fickleness was part of her personality and that in time if she saw him more often, she would certainly come around. And come around she did this week.

© Clr ’14 Bette and my grandson

Since he slept in “her” spot, I was actually surprised that she was drawn to him instead of being jealous but no, she totally drew closer and his patience certainly paid off. To see him beaming when he started petting her…that she allowed him to even touch her was magical to see.

Patiently waits,
human-animal bond
first calm

© Tournesol ’14

MindLoveMiserysMenagerie – Heeding Haiku with HA – New Year

train ride home (Kikobun)

 

 

© Clr è14
© Clr ’14

I had spent a very brief visit with my family in Toronto last summer after a four-day retreat.  I always look forward to the long ride returning home to Montreal. It gives me time to adjust to the change of places and reminisce of things I did, people I saw and the life I once had here.  I had time to think of my new personal mantra I was given which I could practice for over four  hours and how much a part of my heart is still in this city I once called home.

© Clr '14
© Clr ’14

 

Settling by the window, I allowed the train to rock me like a lullaby…chug chug chug…eyes focused on the city we are crossing, up above on elevated tracks…I am on top of the world and once we are further out, buildings become scarce. Kilometres of meadows, farms and the occasional crossings in smaller villages flash by…my eyes begin to feel so very heavy.  I am sitting on the opposite side I usually sit for Lake Ontario is on the other side. I will be noticing a different view on this trip.

© clr '14
© clr ’14

 

I see fields and fields of tall grass as it is time for the first harvest of hay. As we sped by I saw stacked bales of hay each farmer displaying his own mark…some tight round bales, some bales shaped like huge barrels and some square blocks. From the train they looked like mounds of hay or straw plants or shrubs.

© Clr '14
© Clr ’14

 

The loud echo of the train’s whistle at some crossings roused me and I admired the sky changing colours as the sun began to set…the man across from me gave in to the lullaby but I am still like a little child fighting sleep always, in the event I just might miss something.

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© Clr ’14

 

rocking on steel rods
fields flashing on fast-forward
a man snores

© Tournesol ’14

Carpe Diem Ghost Writer, Hamish Gunn has asked us to write a Kikobun; this is writing about  about a journey, or part of a journey or wander. The idea of it being about wandering and observing is very relevant.

nouvel an (tanka)

© Clr '14 Colombe
 Colombe

marking the end
she flies up above the clouds
hail of a prelude
a dove joins them in the heavens
angels, our guides from above
~
marque de la fin
elle vole au dessus des nuages
éloge d’un prélude
une colombe les rejoignent dans le ciel
les anges, nos guides de là-haut

© Tournesol ’14

Carpe Diem “Departing Year”