In memory (haiku)

June 18, 1982

In memory of Fred,

a great man, friend, husband, father

miss you.

You loved me

like your own,

thank you.

Strawberry (haiga) Carpe Dieme Haiku Kai #501

At Carpe Dieme Haiku Kai, Challenge #501 Strawberry, Kristjaan has written an extensive post on haiku on strawberry and more importantly on the reference to Strawberry Fields Forever and the Beatles. Illustrations, music video and ending with a lovely song that we all remember John Lennon singing “Imagine”. With this theme in mind, here is my humble contribution.

Strawberry

straw hat and sunscreen

squatting under bushes

picking strawberries.

children giggling

sunburned without a care

red smeared faces.

big pot of redness

controlled temperatures making

strawberry jam.

desert delight

angel food cake, whipped cream

fresh picked strawberries.

summer nights

they dance under the stars

sip strawberry wine

Isle d’Orléans – Berry picking

à l’Isle d’Orléans

les corbeilles se replissent

c’est l’temps des fraises

cueillette estival

sous le soleil brulant

fraises juteuses

imagine a world

pure air, open minds

love all around.

imagine a world

communicating love

and peace.

Deana Carter – Strawberry Wine

Carpe Diem Haiku Kai

Haiku Horizons: Open

Photo credits: Mother nursing infant

Eyes squinting,

squirms with disquiet

howls in concert.

wrapped in mother’s arms

nestles to her breast

mouth opens.

Written for Haiku Horizons “Open”

By the river (haiga)

golden glow

reflecting on the water

river flows.

bonfire

on the riverbank

bullfrogs moo

children laughing

toasting marshmallows

staying up late.

campfire blazing

teens singing along

acoustic guitar.

Carpe Diem Haiku Kai #492 Nights of Summer

Grand-Papa (senryû)

J’ai connu l’amour

inconditionnel d’un père

merci Grand-Papa

Knew a father’s love

unconditional

thank you Grand-Papa.

In honour of Father’s Day

en honneur de la fête des pères

Play stopped (senryû)

Gazing out the window

willing the rain to stop

to go out and play.

Downpour (haiga)

Heavy downpour

quenching relentless soil,

freshening June air.

Blues (haiga)

leaves filter

shades of heaven

clouds shy away.

feuilles amassent

les teintes du ciel

nuages s’écartent

Horizon interval (haibun)

(haiku)

what beauty above

artist paints the horizon

watercolours.

Working in the helping profession can be challenging but it is an extremely validating career. To listen to someone who has no where else to turn, no one else to trust and bravely dials an anonymous help line is liberating and at times, life saving. I am fortunate to work for such a great organization that offers so much hope to youths and young adults.

A counsellor has to practice self-care to avoid compassionate fatigue. That entails taking time off work periodically, spending time with family, friends and mostly finding activities to unwind and experience joy. Life is not all about pain and sadness but when you work in a field where you are facing darkness in the eye too often, it is easy to distort life’s reality.

But what must one do in between those “times off”? Some watch comedy clips on-line, read a good suspense thriller allows the mind to tune out real quick, go for a walk on the streets of Montreal, talk to a colleague, sit in a park for half an hour, journal, write and some take the elevator in our building to go up to the roof and just breath in the crescendo of colours created by the Great Spirit.

I often hurry up there when I take a sneak peek while on a phone call and see through the window the sun starting its performance and I rush upstairs to witness the concert playing out along the horizon.