Category: Haibun

sitting in darkness (haibun)

Tournesol's avatarStop the Stigma

Depression can be a passage in time life offers one to take stalk of one’s life; other times it can be more complex…meeting up with past traumas, a chemical imbalance and the brain needs a boost of “vitamins”, a professional who accompanies one through the darkness so they don’t stumble in those twists and turns in that labyrinth of a tunnel…perhaps it is a moment to grieve which I often call a “necessary depression” to take the time one needs to mourn a loss…to recognize and embrace that moment even when it hurts.   I remember telling a youth embracing suffering sounds so absurd but picture embracing a cactus! and once you have felt the pain, with a supportive listener helping you detach from the needles of that plant, a lightness is felt and finally one may find enlightenment.

(Troiku)

waiting in darkness
waiting for the light
nothing seems to…

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pure innocence (haibun)

How this prompt “nudity” reminds me of my children when they were little. The children were born in the country and so they experienced a freedom you don’t necessarily have in cities and suburbs. When we moved to the suburbs my son, who was five, was invited to go swimming at a neighbour’s house. Of course he was a pratical young boy who knew he would be uncomfortable the rest of the afternoon if his bathing suit was wet…

sweet innocence
jumps in the pool naked,
bathing suit’s dry

© Tournesol ’15

on cloud nine (haiku)

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My daughter loaned me her car for the weekend. It was a bit of a surprise to have such huge wet snowflakes though in such mild weather but by noon the sun was shining and it was glorious.

I had not driven on the highway in over six months. I was so unused to driving and usually I like to speed on spring highways, but this morning, I drove calmly and leisurely. I hardly noticed cars passing me. I listened to music and just enjoyed the drive. The further I drove, I reached more country and even farm houses and barns looked beautiful.

snowflakes dust my path
driving on the highway
melt in puddles

mid-day sun
more than smiles
sunbeams make my day

driving… on cloud nine
daydream like a silly teen
springtime in the air

(c) Tournesol ’15

The last token (haibun)

They spent March break at Mont Tremblant, skiing, skating and eating way too much. Her mother and step-father wanted to reward her for working so hard all year. Her marks had gone from C’s to A’s. Annie-Pierre had not skied since her father died of a heart attack on their Christmas vacation at Mont Ste Anne. He had started when she was ten years old, giving her a special marble each Christmas representing places they visited together. She had 5 now but was missing the very last one he gave her that Christmas. When paramedics arrived, she had run out to the ambulance begging to be with her father and she had dropped her last Christmas token he would ever give her.

 

Magic Marbles by Caleb

last travel keepsake
crafted with sparkle and glass
lost forever

(c) Tournesol ’15

Written for MindLoveMiserysMenagerie Photo Challenge

paralyzed in pain (haibun)

Everyone had left for school. The hush in the house was deafening. Edwina lay in her bed, swimming in her tormented pain.  Soon she would have to get up. Her eyes looked to her right on the bedside table at the clock. It was 7:45 and she had to be at work at noon.  How would she make it on time?  Would she even try this time?  She closed her eyes tightly, annoyed that she had not improved over the months.  All the weeks of therapy, medication…nothing seemed to get her out of this “bain de torture”.

(haiku)

annoyed with self
wades in blistering pain
still awaits the hush

If she did not move any part of her body, breathed lightly and slowly, she might not hear her heart pounding in her ears.  It was all in her head, they all said. There was no reason to feel tormented with what no one can see.  There is no evidence that she feels what she feels. No proof of the sounds she hears. If only someone could possess her whole being, for one split second, they would surely jump out of her skin, she thought.

thescream

(tanka)

lays in wait
tremors stir inside her soul
grisly scream endures
tormenting thru and thru
‘til long  desired hush

© Tournesol ’15

annoyed * hushed * pain

Heeding HaIku with HA at Mind Love Misery’s Menagerie

soothing voice (haibun) Haiga festival – Troiku

It is interesting that this prompt is posted the exact day I was reminiscing of times past with my mother. I was speaking with someone yesterday who mentioned that he felt sad that he no longer remembered the voice of his long deceased mother. That made me think about people I love who have passed especially my mother who recently passed this past December. I remember her voice, her off-key voice when singing, her laugh…oh her laugh!! and her cough that was unique to  her. She always tried to be a lady even when coughing and would clear her throat a bit like her mother (GrandMaman) but still unique to her. I remember her ankles making that snapping sound when she entered the church when I was little and clearing her throat, I felt so much better knowing she was joining me in the pew closer to the front of the church very soon for the priest in the pulpit high up was quite ominous!

Even when she was sick and her memory was muddled, her voice never changed. I remember sitting in the front seat of the car when I was very little because I was always car sick and leaning my big fat head on her breast always worried my heavy head would crush her tiny breasts.
I remember her singing pop songs of the 50`s missing a few words here and there but her voice would make any hit parade. And of course her signature pinch. She loved with such affection she had to control herself from pinching our cheeks too hard.

I remember her telling me so often, “Dont worry, darling. Dont forget to say your three Hail Mary`s and your Act of Contrition before going to sleep.” And the latter not that long ago.

 

her voice soothes me haiga

(Troiku)

when I close my eyes,
brings me back in time
her voice soothes me

when I close my eyes
beauty adds red to her lips
scent of Youth Dew

brings me back in time
pins my hair in a French twist
pinches my cheeks

a voice that soothes me
humming Toura Loura Loura
Hush, but I now cry

© Tournesol ’15

CP – Melancholy

Ovid by the river (haiga)

Tonight as I read so many poems and many mention blossoms and various flowers, I can’t help but reminisce.  I remember studying for exams sitting outside because it was finally warm enough, next to the house by the river.  I was trying very hard to concentrate on my Latin Poetry and Prose, editing my translation of the text’s Latin poem.

“I am the poet of the poor, because I was poor when I loved; since I could not give gifts, I gave words.” Ovid  

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the river breeze
skims through Ovid’s poem
scent of lilacs

© Tournesol ‘15

Written for: Haiku Horizons “skim”

sweetened with love (haibun-Haiga festival)

Since I received a belated birthday bouquet of roses today, it is only common sense to write about that. After all, we are far from seeing any budding blossoms here and these are my first flowers of 2015.  The fragrance of roses is that much sweeter when given with love from a child…another special day.

bunch of roses

scent of roses

counting blessings

on a March day
searching for blossoms
Mother’s birthday

Mother’s birthday
celebrating decades
scent of a rose

scent of a rose
mother weeps with joy
counts her blessings

© Tournesol ’15

Carpe Diem “First flowers” 

cherished droplets (haibun)

@ Danimatie – Deviantart “Raindrops in the water”

Walking home after school in spring, she drags her feet singing “Cherish” under her breath. The sun was still shining but a few clouds started moving overhead slowly. She hardly noticed droplets on her chin. Looking up she smiles, knowing somewhere there will be a rainbow.

dancing softly
tiny puddles on the river
raindrops

~
warm droplets
kiss her eyelashes
sun winks

© Tournesol ’15

Last light (haiga)

The days are finally longer and at my first break at 17:30 today, I  got a glimpse of the sun setting. Such a long winter of dark days and only snow to show brightness, this was a treat for me…a sign of new beginnings…

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sun’s eclipse
ball of fire in the sky
last show of light

© Tournesol ’15

Carpe Diem Haiga Festival (light)