Poetry ~ Waka
first yellow blossom
sprouting from a slender branch—
Buddha bows his head © Magical Mystical Teacher
first yellow blossom
sprouting from a slender branch—
Buddha bows his head (c)MMT
sitting on the riverside
minnows making ripples (c) Tournesol
Carpe Diem Tan Renga Challenge
Video: Flies, minnows and ripples
At Carpe Diem we have a hokku by Jackie Le Poidevin to complete to form a Tan Renga. After reading Georgia’s at Bastetandsekhmet, I loved her completion and decided to add on to hers. I reread my completion and noticed it seems to fit well alone with Jackie Le Poidevin’s hokku but tells a more complete story with Georgia’s, so here it is:
Bare branches touch
Over the lane where we walk,
Fingers entwined.
© Jackie Le Poidevin
young lovers meet in winter
under bare skeleton trees
each gust of wind
down the sunlit naked lane
invites cuddling © G.s.k. ‘15
safe in our embrace
remnants of Saint Valentine’s
beneath starry skies
big dipper sneaks a peak
of our first kiss © Tournesol ’15
sweet stolen kisses of love
open to the universe
live love embraces
the stars can only envy
young lovers kisses © G.s.k. ‘15
a chill brings us closer
calms trembling forms
so naive we were
was not the chilly breeze
that made us shiver. © Tournesol ‘15
and hot streams flowed intrepid
in the our hidden garden
no winter treed lane
our hands and bodies entwined
we walked together © G.s.k. ‘15
a turtle dove purrs
wishing us eternal love
gazing into
each other’s spellbound eyes
we kissed © Tournesol ‘15
that was thirty years ago
winter has frosted our hair
we walk together
o’er the lane bare branches touch
with fingers entwined © G.s.k. ’15
cherry blossom rain
young girls with pink umbrellas
watched by eager boys (JazzBumpa)
pacific gust lifts his cap
they smile as he runs by
girls giggling
amused with this new chase
shamed boy drops his head
© Tournesol ’15
© Tournesol ’15
Our host completes Basho’s haiku here:
borrowing sleep
from the scarecrow’s sleeves
midnight frost (Basho)
the abandoned little girl
left alone without grief (Chèvrefeuille)
sweet perfume
mingles with the sound of rain –
a dog barks
© Chèvrefeuille
© Tournesol ’15
trail of secret
woven into the clear sky
~ first spiritual journey (© Sky)
fused in contemplation
probe wit in broken lines
blue skies
hold the canvas
scrutiny
© Tournesol ’15
the endless night
unable to count the stars
in the frozen pond (Ese)
snow clouds floating overhead
bored, I soon lost interest (Tournesol)
the endless night
unable to count the stars
in the frozen pond (Ese)
how can one keep count
when they are frozen in time (Tournesol)
A long time ago two teens pledged their undying love. Coming into adulthood, they finally marry in hopes to plan a family. Year after year, still barren they prayed together by the old oak tree at the river. With prayer and faith, on their seventh wedding anniversary their pleas were answered. Some said they had the luck of the number 7 but the woman knew all too well from where her blessing took root…down by the river bank at the old oak tree.
the old oak’s roots –
reach from past to future
recall last year (c) Björn Rudberg
at the old oak tree, she kneels
rubbing her belly in thanks
faint breeze
whispers through the leaves
swallows chirp
(c) Tournesol ‘15
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After the beautiful description our host gave us at Carpe Diem, I was inspired to write a bit more. Our host describes the various symbols and meanings to the Oak tree:
“The Oak is one of the sacred Druidic three: ‘Oak, Ash & Thorn’. In general, Oak is associated with spells for protection, strength, success and stability, healing, fertility, health, money, potency, and good luck. Oak has been considered sacred by just about every culture that has encountered the tree, but it was held in particular esteem by the Norse and Celts because of its size, longevity, and nutritious acorns. The oak is frequently associated with Gods of thunder and lightning such as Zeus, Thor, and the Lithuanian God Perkunas. This association may be due to the oak’s habit of being hit by lightening during storms. Specific oak trees have also been associated with the ‘Wild Hunt’, which is led by Herne in England and by Wodin in Germany. Oak galls, known as Serpent Eggs, were used in magical charms. Acorns gathered at night held the greatest fertility powers. The Druids and Priestesses listened to the rustling oak leaves and the wrens in the trees for divinatory messages. Burning oak leaves purifies the atmosphere. In general, oak can be used in spells for protection, strength, success and stability; the different varieties will lend their own special ‘flavor’ to the magic.” Carpe Diem
ancient laughter
captured in a canyon wind –
yucca leaves, rustling © Paloma
ancestors sighing
legends of their past © Tournesol ‘14
gust picks up
piercing echoes trail
forbidden secrets
© Tournesol ‘14
Tournesol dans un Jardin 
