fêtons en hiver
avec le Bonhomme Carnaval
dansant dans la rue
tendres bisous dans la nuit
gourde de vin les réchauffe
© Tournesol’16/01/08
Bonhomme Carnaval (tanka)
Category: tanka
Daily Moments Jan 7 2016 (Shame on you! -haibun)
Does greed alone rule the world? Must one make money on the sufferings of others? This is not a statement about being politically correct…no indeed! It is a cry of frustration and disappointment that, yet again, the greedy vulturesw takes over common sense, compassion and savoir vivre.
shame on you
worst kind of selfish vultures
make a fast buck
no concern for those hurting
seeking only their own gain
© Tournesol ‘16/01/07
Read more: StigmaHurtsEveryone and here CBC News
her name was Colombe (tanka)
afternoon stroll
watching pigeons on the beach
white dove leads the pack
feels at home with her colombe
peace washes over her.
© Tournesol ’15/12/22
CPHK – Seven days of Christmas #5 “peace”
Colombe is the name of my mother.
fairy dust (haibun- daily moments)
The day started with a surprise visit.. I had planned to take a bus to pick up a parcel it and get some items at the grocery store next door. My son arrived minutes after I had showered, so, I quickly braided my wet hair and rushed out. He mentioned he has to guard frenzied drivers to avoid an accident. I couldn’t agree more with his need to err on caution since I was careful crossing the street c as well; there seemed too many hurried drivers running red lights and cutting other cars off.
I took advantage of his arms and his car to get heavier items at the store. We stopped for a submarine on our way home. As I was waiting for our order to ring up, my son was pointing to the homemade cookies on the counter. For a moment I felt like I was right back 30 years ago when he was seven and silently eyeing something like a hot wheel or candy bar. A gush of warmth swept over me.
As we stepped out of the restaurant there was blowing snow…looked like millions of tiny white beads spreading on the dark pavement. Temperatures had dropped today and I was hopeful the ground would stay white just a while longer.
North winds quicken
snow clouds dim late afternoons
chilling brittle bones
fairy dust on dark pavements
brightens this early dusk
© Tournesol ‘15/12/19
a silent wash of tears (haibun)
It was my first retreat. I was sharing a room with a long time devotee I had never met. I was not even worried but what did unnerve me, was how would I react when this spiritual Mother, this world renowned guru would arrive? Would I feel something special within? Would there be a sign from the universe? I was going out of curiosity that summer of 2014 as I had been seeking something to help me grow spiritually. I was open to learn.
The first day I arrived I waited with my token, in a long line, to be embraced by this amazing woman. I reached the stage and sat down waiting to be summoned to move forward. I could feel my body shake out of anticipation or nervousness.
I wasn’t sure which.
My mind went back to when I had to face the bishop as a child at my Confirmation. I was so nervous I had to pee so bad! Not unusual since I was confirmed at five years old. Young? Yes, but I was tall and my mother wanted to spare the embarrassment of towering over my peers, so the priest gave his permission. I took extra Catechism lessons and memorized The Apostles’ Creed and I would be led to that man with the tall pointed hat! I did not appreciate the slap on the cheek (The teacher forgotten to tell me about that part)
Minutes later, I was standing in front of the beloved Mother and I lowered my body to be embraced. Her warm hug was like that of my grandmother’s, as if we knew each other forever and yet we were strangers…or had we once met in another lifetime?
Three days of similar rituals, meditations, warm compassionate talks and beautiful stories, singing…so much singing and the tap tap of the Tabla drums filled the room. On Devi Bhava, after Amma had completed all her hugs, her blessings and it was time to leave…she stood up on the stage, looking at all her devotees for one last long endearing moment.
The vast room filled with thousands of people fell silent…mere echoes of a far away cough, a tiny baby gurgling and Amma’s eyes on all of her devotees; was it possible to feel this pure love wash over each and everyone in that hall?
crowd falls silent
Holy Mother’s reverent gaze
beat of a heart,
echoes in the chamber of a chest
tears roll softly down a cheek
© Tournesol ’15
nature’s wonderous mysteries (haibun –sort of)
Walking home last night she sees grey swirls elevated near the curb as she crosses the street. The first frozen puddle she has noticed in the city, autumn’s last month flirting with winter. She knows the days are numbered now. Leading towards the end of this season sometimes feels like walking towards a grave.
fallen to their death
leaves spread season’s quilt
tucking in the earth
Although logic knows the earth is not dead but asleep…napping for a spell, until spring, the dark of day lacking sunshine makes us feel this way on this cold day of November. Not only does nature seem somnolent but the sun as well, turning in so early.
sun bids farewell
yet, it’s only teatime!
autumn’s new soirée
No longer can one dine in the evening whilst they admire art displays in the sky. (sigh!) The artist too, has turned in earlier, skipping dinner and off to bed.
painting moods in blues
in the darkest hour
cleansing of new dawn
One can sometimes hear
In the darkest hour
awe celestial notes
message from the heavens,
still, she is not clear…
Nature has its mysteries, that she does not know; makes it all the more appealing, savouring the unknown.
whispers in her ear
playing sanguine notes
lighting up her soul
© Tournesol ’15
I think I may have gotten carried away here with poetic prose and turned a few sentences into haiku and tanka. I am still categorizing this as a haibun.
boring fence (haiga – tanka)
lacklustre fence
along the railway tracks
nature takes pity
natural beauty spills over
autumn leaves adorn
© Tournesol ’15
Storm within (haibun +¸haiku)
On her walk home, she listened to Deva Premal, she had purchased three mantras last night…yep, three of the same mantras chanted differently. It gave her energy to start her shift and blessed her when she came home at the end of her long night.
She reached her home minutes after midnight; she gave her loyal feline friend a cuddle, then fired up the laptop. She must have touched a button she was not used to with her new Windows 10 and Microsoft Edge NEWS popped up with the first article shocking her. “All my babies are dead”…her hand hesitated on the mouse for a split second and then she clicked. A tragedy! Preventable, unnecessary… drunk driving tragedy. It was as if the weather of that nice evening walk home in the cool brisk air had changed dramatically. This was why she no longer had television. This was the reason she stopped purchasing newspapers 14 years ago but the internet still bled bad news.
home at twilight
sits with a midnight snack
and, then the storm broke
prays for those who’ll never rest
grieving for their babies
© Tournesol ’15
___________________________________________________
(haiku)
three dead children
parents’ limbs ripped of their souls
idle bicycles
a father,
a grandfather
gone forever
families,
communities and nations
grieve
the storm invaded,
addiction grabbed too many
victims
© Tournesol ’15
Deva Premal – Gayatri Mantra
Oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ
tát savitúr váreṇ(i)yaṃ
bhárgo devásya dhīmahi
dhíyo yó naḥ pracodáyāt
We meditate on the glory of the Creator;
Who has created the Universe;
Who is worthy of Worship;
Who is the embodiment of Knowledge and Light;
Who is the remover of Sin and Ignorance;
May He open our hearts and enlighten our Intellect.
Nouvel an – Carpe Diem Haiku Kai – octobre 2015 (haibun)
Carpe Diem is more than just a website or a daily writing prompt…it is a way of life with a mentor who patiently guides us with many seasoned members who also generously share their gift. I can feel the family connection and encouragement among members. I learned so much from these experienced siblings.
But this past year, has been a place that lifted me when I felt down, allowed me to write through my grief when my mom passed and enabled me to find my voice and my place. Happy New Year, Chèvrefeuille and Haijins!
un nouvel an
semant nos graines d’inspirations
une récolte familiale
a new year
sowing seeds of inspiration
a family harvest
© Tournesol ‘15
Here is a Thank you I wrote last week. Merci Chèvrefeuille
My thanks to our mentor, Chèvrefeuille, who shares his passion and thoughtfully teaches us more than words, daily.
haiku lover
shares his passion, teaching
patiently
one moment comes to life
seventeen syllables
© Tournesol’15
winter calls me (jisei – troiku – tanka)
trace of autumn
butterfly and bumble bee
lingering
trace of autumn
blossoms resisting
summer’s end
butterfly and bumble bee
hold a secret
the other side
lingering
season closing in
shorter days
soft breeze whistles
golden rays warm my face
life remembered
so much love
mother fed me every day
abundance overflowed
left me plenty
to feed an army
on this muddy path
I walk alone
winter calls me
© Tournesol ’15
Written for Dversepoets – Jisei – Death Poem
Tournesol dans un Jardin 
