They passed by him one by one. The sun had just risen and many people shuffled South coming back from their night shift; they seemed to notice him and some would stop by and say hi, or offer him something; others were in their own world walking zombie like; they couldn’t wait to hit the pillow.
And then there was another crowd walking the other direction, very quickly going to their day job. Most of them did not notice him and some even smirked at him as if he were a nuisance.
After the weekend, the morning crowd was not always accommodating.
by the Métro door
sips the last of his coffee
folks rush by
by the Métro door
holds out his Tim Horton cup
longing heavy coins
sips the last of his coffee
the nurse in purple, brings him
every Monday
folks rush by
every hundredth person drops
a big fat toonie
This week at Dungeon promptwe are asked to write about one of the more wilder things we’ve done in our life that looks a little out of place when put up next to the rest of our life’s journey. Or take it in another direction and write about our monsters, or demons.
boul St Laurent Montréal Street art, ’17
I think the worse monster I may have is self-doubt and questioning my own self-worth. That is not something that family and friends close to me know…more or less. It has its strengths and its weaknesses. In strength it emits humility. In weakness it chips away at my spirt and elicits inertia.
Some things, however, are best left unsaid. Have you ever held on to a deep dark secret for years and finally share one day out of sheer vulnerability? Perhaps you were tired or experiencing too many layers and layers of stresses in your life that that last drop made you spill some of it over. Maybe you were so raw and drunk with grief, it trickled out, only to discover later it may not have been the right person to dump on.
Maybe a priest, a therapist, a minister, a rabbi or a guru are appropriate recipients but is a friend the same? Is a spiritual guide better? Some things seem worse spoken out loud. Don’t they? Fantasies may be harmless until some are shared or acted upon. What about secrets deep inside that may shock your friend(s) or family? We all have demons, don’t we?
rarely share
secrets of the soul
hidden deep inside
life
all its dips and rises
every single day
always try to share
power of your faith
fullness of the heart
rarely share
secrets of the soul
hidden deep inside
most don’t really care
too busy with their dole
mornings
start in darkness
brighten thru the day
ups and downs
a fact of life
taken all in stride
caring is so easy
giving also pleasing
looking outwards
feeling all their pain
comfort and appease them
letting go of self
never share
secrets of the soul
hidden deep inside
dare not to confide
mysteries that confuse
merely cause unease
only wish they’d ask – instead,
keep my thoughts confined
death awaits us all patient – unassuming dark before the light
death awaits us all some may rather choose not to wait
patient and unassuming spirits of the night floating orbs invite
dark before the light lasting and forbidding demon of the night
demon of the night
asks not for forgiveness – lures
with empty promise
lasting and forbidding
clinging to the fabric
ripping at the soul
mending seems so futile
hopelessness a trend
dark before the light
demons sweeten my demise
cravings of an end
never ever share
secrets of the soul
hidden deep inside
life
like a valley
days bump in the night
darkness seems forever
climbing insurmountable
never ever share
secrets of the soul
hidden deep inside
praying lifts the soul
defying troubled times
builds protective shields
praying lifts the soul
demons kept at bay
harmless deep inside
defying troubled times
teasing Satan with his fire
smothering it with faith
builds protective shields
containing scents of weakness
fragrance of despair
writing keeps me sane
faith puts out the fires
praying is the same
never ever share
secrets of the soul
hidden deep inside
misunderstood,
hasty revelations may
alienate and scare
judge and jury
etched upon their faces
I shall never share
some secrets of the soul
hidden deep inside
some things
better left unsaid
only He can see
healing with His love
waiting for that moment
drying all my tears
opening my eyes – finally
see His blessed light
best to never share
secrets of the soul
unless through your prayers
Our host at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai presents us with a photo (above) to inspire our muse and imagination. A troiku is a new form of haiku created by our host.
Whenever she feels mystical shifts in her mind’s eye she simply allows images to tell their own story.Dusting off old narratives, a surge of waves of old and new dance together playing “catch-me-if-can” until they marry and lock onto a fresh canvas waiting for the artist’s inspiration…
thoughts linger
draped in cobwebs
quieting the mind
thoughts linger
weightless joy
makes her smile
draped in cobwebs
secrets of the night
lie in wait
quieting the mind
rhythmic waves
reaching nirvana
~
Aw the mind! offers such sweet passages to explore
Nearing the end of summer is such a busy and pleasant time of year. Fruits are still plentiful at the farmer’s market, we can smell the peaches, plums and first pickings from the apple orchard. Vegetables are in abundance and it is a time to make homemade ketchup, pickled beets and bread and butter pickles. Kitchens are filled with aromas and tiny hands reaching for a spoon to savour the fruits of our mother’s and grandmother’s labour.
harvesting season
golden honey on my tongue
taste of heaven
harvesting season
tart and crunchy Lobos
first apple pickings
golden honey on my tongue
mixed with lemon and ginger
GrandMaman’s potion
taste of heaven
after dinner digéstif
apricot brandy
blue butterflies even cicada are silent divine messengers
My readers may remember my sharing, the spring, summer and fall after my mother passed, I kept seeing blue butterflies from May to early November. For some reason, I felt she was hanging around for a while until I was ready. I kept looking for those blue butterflies last year and this year but to no avail until this afternoon.
Walking home I took a different path and I was rewarded for my choice. Grasshoppers jumped at my feet before moving on to the grassland; bees absorbed solely by sweet nectar and so many to choose from! And then I saw one, two and so many more for the first time in two years…
if blue butterflies
even the cicada would silence
could only sing
if blue butterflies
were really messengers
living in heaven
even the cicada would silence
cardinal croons cheerfully
mid-day serenade
living in heaven
once in perfect harmony
demons and angels
traveling all night pleasant leisure distractions eyes flutter
travelling all night so many strange places yet, familiar
pleasant leisure distractions finally worries take a backseat
eyes flutter taking in every scene my movie screen
Such an offensive shrill pulls me aggressively from my dream. Keeping my eyes closed trying with all my might, to slip back on that journey. I put on my eye mask filling my eyes with darkness…hoping, waiting for the train to pass.
sun rising in its splendour blossoms dusk hastens light of day nighttime’s last embrace
(c) Tournesol’17
Departure #30 necessary endings (haibun)
Endings can be so difficult. No one wants to say goodbye to frolicking in an open field, making sand castles on a sunny beach or walking along a park in open sandals. One just feels so much lighter! It tastes like freedom. Moreover, despite the rich blankets of gold and amber, it is so darn hard to let go of this period. Just like the child that says, “Just five more minutes, please!” so he can say up a little bit later, resisting the end of a day.
carefree summer soon comes to an end sombreness lingers less time to play shorter days
walking home alone path filled with fallen leaves winter’s calling me
Looking out over the river by her late mother’s house, she hears a bird whistling loudly. She goes under the tree and speaks softly, “Where are you? You sing so beautifully…”
by the riverside
stirred from her dream
serenading
by the riverside
recalling times past
daydreaming
stirred from her dream
singing happily from a tree
she smiles
serenading
consoling her lovingly
a cardinal sings
I don’t think I appreciated August as much as I have for the past few decades. Summer was a time to play, unwind and of course be out of school. Once August came around the corner, winds picked up, thunder storms increased and the temperatures became a bit cooler especially the nights. I remember as a child and teenager, thinking that school would be starting soon and that brought me down. I enjoyed school but not getting up early in the morning. I think I have always been a night owl.
Even as a mother, I did not like August because I knew there would be less free time to just chill with the kids…that I would not have to be more disciplined and organized, making sure the children got off to school before I went to work. All the stores had sales on school supplies and schools were sending in their required list for the new year. Spending time in stores to get new clothes as well and not knowing if the children will want to wear them by October if it is not trendy enough for their peers.
Once the children were out of school and working, August changed…it was as if summer was lasting a lot longer…I could enjoy the summer until September 22nd!! And then looking forward to the burst of autumn colours! What is depressing about that?! No, I really seem to have missed on appreciating this time of year but no more.
I discovered a new form of poetry last month called The Cherita at Celestine’s blog Reading Pleasure, a gifted Haiku poetess; the Cherita was created byal li. Rather than using prose, I am telling my story with two Cherita followed by a Troiku which is a new form of haiku created by Chèvrefeuille. I name my haibun a troibun since troiku is the core.
Tournesol dans un Jardin 