Poetry ~ Waka
How dare they say
It is not true
Claiming lies
Political hoax
How dare they say
It is not true
Influencing the public
denying a crime
what do they fear?
The truth hurts
Only the guilty
How dare they say
It is not true
Claiming it’s just
A political hoax
trauma
disclosed collectively
sharing their pain
building their courage
strengthening their voices
brave women unite
let their voice carry worldwide
sharing their truths
© tournesol 2025/09/06
Daily Moments – free verse & waka
when I’m with a faithful friend
I so love who I am
seeing me
through their eyes
when I’m with my grandchildren
I’m so grateful
Seeing what they see
through their eyes
when I am with my cousin
I so love who I am
seeing me
through those eyes
But
when I see myself
through your eyes
I sometimes cringe
washed with
self-doubt & remorse
I suppose
Three out of four
aint’t so bad, eh?…
The glass is more than half full!
© Tournesol 2024-09-08
what is happiness (free verse)
you cannot chase it
you cannot look for it
you need to be content
with what the universe brings you
to be open to flares…moments of joy
that lift the corners of that frown…
my cats made me smile today,
the sunshine brought me joy
new blossoms on a plant
on my bedroom windowsill,
sipping my morning java makes me sigh…
feeling warm water
in the shower eases the pain
from aching joints
see the pain run down the drain
gone for a moment or two
moments I embrace…
(c) Tournesol– 2024-04-27
November often is filled with grey skies, fallen leaves and cold rain that often turns to snow. It is a time of transition between cool to cold, between vibrance versus calm and rest. Mother Earth needs a rest and will wrap us soon with a white blanket…Some people are excited for the holidays but many feel melancholy, missing loved ones far away or no longer here. Some are living in a past that is missed, others look forward to the joys of holiday gatherings, good food and children’s eyes twinkling with excitement.
At my age, I’ve been blessed with archives of many joys and here are just a few…
Sitting by the riverside, waiting for the sun to set
willows weep with joy
last sights of nature’s beauty
sun dips below
silent nestlings tucked in
robin does her last round
sunset
dips beneath blue azure
fluid hues of joy
So many joys to share…moments in time linger in my memory.
The first time you learn you are pregnant after years of trying. I remember not believing the pharmacist and asked him to write it down on the receipt to show my husband. My legs were shaking so much, giggling nervously and I could not drive for a good fifteen minutes.
I remember thechallenges of being a first time homeowner. One morning, my husband had to call the contractor for help when our basement was flooded. I just kept smiling…Iwas in my own world because I felt my baby move in my belly for the very first time.
Hearing the crunch underfoot walking on that first snowfall. Making snow angels and tasting snowflakes on my tongue. Hearing my grandson giggle when I slipped and fell in the snow. Hearing my grand-daughter respond to my ”Te amo”…with ”Mucho mucho!”…a joy that makes the heart melt with so much love.
Seeing my grandchildren wave and smile at me on video chat!! Even technology can bring me joy!
The first time my child says, “Mummy”
My adult child that says“I love you, Mom!”
Grandchildren saying, “I love you Nana!”
A struggling youth in such pain
ends his call with me, “You give me hope”
Toddler walking barefoot on the grass for the first time, lifting his foot because it tickles.
night unveils new dawn
dewdrops on soft petals
sun kissed skies
Memories transport me to another time…
sitting on a park bench
giggling children
joy painted on their lips
sitting on a park bench
swallows chirp
telling stories
giggling children
skipping, running joyfully
tag you’re it
joy painted on their lips
brings new life to any day
how the spirit glows!
Awakened Christmas moring discovering Santa’s surprise under the tree. Eavesdropping from my bed, “But how did he know?!” my heart bathed in love, weeping tears of joy…
Carols echoing Adeste Fidele…such moments of delight! Yesterday’s joys, born again, I smile anew!
©Tournesol’16/11/2023
Adeste, fideles, laeti, triumphantes,
Venite, venite in Bethlehem:
Natum videte Regem Angelorum:
Venite adoremus, venite adoremus
Venite adoremus Dominum.
En grege relicto, humiles ad cunas,
vocatis pastores approperant.
Et nos ovanti gradu festinemus.
Venite adoremus, venite adoremus
Venite adoremus Dominum.
Aeterni Parentis splendorem aeternum,
Velatum sub carne videbimus
Deum Infantem, pannis involutum.
Venite adoremus, venite adoremus
Venite adoremus Dominum.
Pro nobis egenum et foeno cubantem,
Piis foveamus amplexibus:
Sic nos amantem quis nos redamaret?
Venite adoremus, venite adoremus
Venite adoremus Dominum.
Today we celebrated National Indigenous Peoples Day which also falls on summer solstice. All day an the beginning of summer, the end of the school here in Quebec and the birth of her mother. On June 22nd, 1926, a lovely, smiling baby girl was born…she had curly locks and a contagious laugh. She brought joy to so many people and loved her children and grandchildren/great grandchildren more than life itself. And that says a lot. She had two open heart surgeries and 3 other heart procedures…she fought so hard to live. Where did she get the courage and strength? Surely her unrelenting faith as well as her love for her family. It is appropriate that she started her journey into this world during the summer solstice…the sun was her best friend. Oh how she loved its glow and warmth!
She is missed but today her memory brings joy. Bonne Anniversaire, Colombe….Happy Birthday, Mom/Nanny. 
Open your heart
letting in joy
Scent of sweet lilacs
Open your heart
Rustling leaves
Sound of laughter
Letting in joy
Swaddled in the warmth
Of summer
Scent of sweet lilacs
longest day of the year
Summer solstice
© Tournesol 2023-06-21
A widow and her sons gathered with their cousins the evening before…reacquainting with each other, reminiscing their childhoods…remembering their father, their uncle, her life long partner of 68 years, who passed. They laughed, they danced, they ate a feast cousins had ordered for the family; they drank and remembered a wonderful man who touched so many friends and family of all ages. One cousin was up late downloading music her cousins had chosen to be played at the burial. Another cousin went to the florist to get roses and rose petals.
The next morning, she woke up early and went to the coffee shop to have breakfast and listened to her muse…in two hours her uncle’s ashes would be interred at the family graveside. It was cloudy but not raining and clouds were making room for the sun’s rays…
grey skies beckoning no more tears grey skies casting shadows under their eyes beckoning softly whispers please don't cry no more tears like dust in the wind smiling from above (c) Tournesol 2022-10-18 and then the sun appeared as if he was smiling ...
Songs:
Wish you were here – Pink Floyd
Father & Son – Cat Stevens
Tears in Heaven – Eric Clapton
My Way – Frank Sinatra
Hallelujah – Alexandra Burke
Dust in the Wind – Kansas
Poem read:
We hear of endings
the last time
that last moment
saying goodbye
and yet,
no warnings of “firsts”
first Christmas
first New Year
first birthday
and many other firsts
who would have known
the last would turn full circle
to the first
being as tender as that last day
bittersweet in many ways
ingredients of woe
are recipes of grief.
how to separate sorrow
from blissful memories?
you don’t
it’s not planned
it’s processed
it’s lived
it’s worn
like an old hoodie
fitted like a soft duvet
feeling like a heavy blanket
struggling with the heaviness
of fond narratives of a past
ah but the weight one feels
of such collections that we sort
but carry oh so selfishly
letting go is not a language
yet understood…
hanging on to each noun, pronoun,
verbs and oh those adjectives!
Time does not lighten this quilt
but our heart becomes accustomed
weaving heartfelt stories
every shade and colour
securing them with bonded yarn
strong, everlasting scripts
never-ending stories
our heritage woven lovingly
… a family heirloom.
(c) Tournesol 2022-09-23
It’s Mother’s Day and I keep thinking backwards and then forward…I miss my mom but i see her in me, and through me and through my children and love her for keeping her spirit alive in all of us. She is in my children and grandchildren…loving them so so much.
It’s that time of year again
remembering uncooked chocolate pudding
and toast in bed
each grain of powder saying, “I love you Mom”
ceramic paper weights
paper doilies
macaroni necklace…
I remember picking dandelions
and drawing pictures,
gluing absorbing cotton clouds
hearing her voice singing songs with made up words
laughing with delight and childlike joy
running her fingers in her curly hair
hugging me, whispering “I love you, darling”
(C) ClRoberts 2022-05-08
It's week two of our partial lockdown, curfews and life in this fifth wave. My heart goes out to people living alone, especially seniors who have no family or few friends. And then I feel for youths. How do they see the world these days, having been robbed of so much these passed two years underlining grief etched upon faces woven in the fabric of their souls upside down smiles not knowing why, how, when will life feel moderately tolerable again trying to pull away feeling bits of freedom independence rebellious teens being teens but not now stolen pockets of time laughing with friends no one sees their smiles masked with triple layers no one sees their frowns no one hears their truths crying silently in their dreams underlining grief etched upon faces woven in the fabric of their souls a time to make friends meet new people parties here get-together there finally find that special person who gets them… and yet, all those experiences pre-pandemic wishful dreams unrequited loves unfulfilled aspirations isolation desperation precious paltry moments facetiming, echoes of a video chat working part time everyone under pressure bosses seem demanding clients irritated parents stressed and worried cabin fever breaks time for a walk bike ride is always safe winter sucks these times holding them hostage reality biting with a vengence underlining grief etched upon faces woven in the fabric of their souls © cheryl-lynn ‘2022-01-07 Daily Moments Jan 7 2022
7 years passed missing her each day like it was just yesterday miss her scent rich and heavy animated laughter flirtatious smile uttering her sweet “darling” with a British accent 7 years has passed miss her like it was yesterday Love you Mom now and forever a timex love affair keeps on ticking. (c) tournesol 2021-12-02
Tournesol dans un Jardin 