late night walk home
fatigue pouring with the rain
and windswept bones
smile taking shape
sunshine appears at the door
©Tournesol’17/06/28
sunshine at my door (tanka – daily moments – June 28 2017)
Category: tanka
An open vessel waiting (haibun)
For years she prided herself with reading and watching the news all over the world. Then, 9/11 happened. It felt just too close to home. How could she continue practicing her profession and remaining genuine in her words and in her voice if she was, herself, alarmed at times?
And so she cut out many forms of media only limiting news when she sought it in cyberspace. This way she could make more room for her mind to think rather than be drawn into areas not of her choice.
Television was then cut out altogether and and writing emptied her mind of distracting thoughts until she learned to pray and meditate. Chanting her mantra allowed her to shut out distracting thoughts…travelling more alone…walks in nature alone…allowed her to take those first baby steps into “being”. She felt less alone in her solitude than in crowds of people. Now if only, she could sing as beautifully as those angelic youthful voices in a choir…
at the water’s edge
echoes of drumming
the river roars
voice turns to honey
chanting Lokah Samasta
daunting rapids
striking yet unassuming
splashing rocks
humming with every ripple
immersing feet with humility
the mind
lights up at any age
like an old well
clearing waterways
pouring life into the source
©Tournesol’17/06/25
Written for Carpe Diem Haiku Kai – “The Songs of Milarepa” (3) The Shepherd
humble beginnings
ruffled feathers
seagulls on the shore
the wind blows
&
morning light
spilling pinks and purples
dancing in the sky
hums from smiling faces
devotees pray at dawn
©Tournesol`17/06/16
Carpe Diem #1207 Non-Resistance
corydalis
corydalis
blue raindrops on hillsides
wash away pain
bathing in nature’s bliss
soothing herbal remedies
blue tear drops
reflections of heaven
hanging by a stem
©Tournesol’17/06/10
Pedicularis (Indian Warrior)
on borrowed roots
magenta stems and feathered leaves
flowers blossom
nature’s herbal sedative
chasing man-made miseries
&
warrior’s plume
favour woodlands gracefully
nature’s beauty
©Tournesol’17/06/10
To read more about the medicinal properties of Pedicularis Densiflora click the link below:
Pedicularis Densiflora (Indian Warrior)
Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for his tireless daily meme and teaching us a little bit about the world each day.
sweet memories (troiku)
A troiku is a new haiku form created by our host, Chèvrefeuille. I often write a tanka and take a step back for a moment or two and sometimes, convert it into a troiku.
This was my original tanka.
hopelessly waiting
sitting under the maple tree
looking for a sign
butterfly seeking nectar
oh, sweet melancholy!
childish yearnings
sitting under the maple tree
looking for a sign
childish yearnings
waiting for your presence
foolish desires
sitting under the maple tree
whence you’d sing me fables
melancholy breeze
looking for a sign
butterfly’s sipping nectar
candy-coated dreams
©Tournesol’17/06/08
Inspired by this waka by princess Kagami ; (7th century): This “waka” was written in response on a sedoka written by her younger sister Princess Nukada, the most famous female poet of her time.
Even a breeze may fail me
When I desire it.
Little I should grieve,
If only, sure of its coming,
I could await even a breeze.
© Princess Kagami
Our host’s contribution:
through tears
cherry blossoms scattered
by the breeze
© Chèvrefeuille
Daily Moments on this 7th day of June – Change (haibun)
When a friend or colleague leaves I have to be reminded that change is good and if I expect the unexpected in life, I will rarely be disappointed.
“change is a constant”
says the caterpillar
“follow the flow”.
butterfly sips sweet nectar
daisies by the riverside
©Tournesol’17/06/07
Daily Moments on this 7th day of June – Change
unpredictable muse (free verse – tanka)
staring at the screen
nothing happens
what is wrong with me?
I want to scream!
not a word comes
not even a phrase
from my empty head.
when that moment hails
and inspiration does not fail
what a feeling to be had
poetry in motion
alas it’s not tonight
the words will come
another day
until then I shall walk
around the parks
and search among the trees
to my muse they may talk
I feel a tanka brewing
in the back of my mind
yay, a line or two or three or five
to finally end my day
(tanka)
wind at my back
riding on my bicycle
taking in the view
shops, bistros and patios
summer’s around the bend
Tournesol`17/06/07
Daily Moments June 7, 2017 unpredictable muse
Daily Moments – May 13, 2017 – Mother’s Day (haibun)
(c)Clr17
© Clr ’14/12/13
Oli-G Nov 7/78
(c) Clr ’15
Colombe – Bette – Mom- Nanny June 26. 1926 – Dec 2, 2014
© Clr’15 Dreamers
(c)Clr’14
© Clr’15
© Clr’17
Flowers are lovely gifts and some are fragrant and sweet. Treated to a brunch or dinner is nice too. If the weather stays mild, BBQ’s are the rage for many families as well. But deep down all I need to really hear is, “I love you, Mom.” This is a set of words in any language, that goes straight to the heart.
So, you know those commercials that tug at your heartstrings…and the hallmark cards that seem to say it better than you…don’t worry…they don’t say it better! Just those four little words are more than you know and poetry to the ears of any mother…trust me.
This is a weekend, ever since I can remember, I would use the English language and try to share my thoughts and feelings that filled my heart. This was a time I may have rhymed a line or two but mostly, I’d tell her how much she is important to me.
Time to visit her new home and set some flowers and say a few words. Tell her how much she is missed and in my thoughts every single day.
I am thankful for the love she swaddled me in as an infant. I am grateful she looked at me and saw only beauty and success. How could I not succeed in life with such confidence in me, she mirrored each and every day?!
I’m so happy she was there every step of the way even when I had my babies. She taught me how to bathe them and gave me permission to be a tigress and hold them as long as they needed me and showed me that was true mothering and loving, not spoiling at all.
I’m glad my children were blessed with the greatest Nanny on earth, who made them laugh and kissed their bobos too.
I still remember one Mother’s Day morning being served a sweet breakfast of (uncooked) chocolate pudding and I’ve never managed to make anything quite as delicious.
So maybe this weekend I will look at old movies and play old tunes that she loved so much…definitely, sounds like a plan for the weekend.
missing you
today and tomorrow
‘til we meet again
sliding down a rainbow – or,
swinging on a brilliant star
Until then, keep visiting me as a blue butterfly; keep making signals on my mobile phone, tickle me in my ear or visit me in my dreams.
©Tournesol’17/05/12
Daily Moments – May 13, 2017 – Mother’s Day (haibun)
Written for Mother’s Day AND LindaGHill’s Friday reminder and prompt for SoCS May 13, 2017: Language
Happy Mother’s Day, Linda!
Daily Moments -May 12, 2017 – blessed day (Troibun)
Awakening to the bright sunshine allowed her to take this to mean it would be a hopeful day. Finally a pleasant spring day in May, compared to the cool damp day the days before.
sun shining
belated sprouts triumph
luminosity
sun shining
glowing
with good intentions
belated sprouts triumph
respecting delicate ties
reborn again
luminosity
building strength
weathering storms
As she walked out the door to catch her bus, the sky was overcast. Slightly disappointed, she sighed and checked her mailbox and a glow of sunshine reappeared.
avid reader smiles
a poet, writer…
long distance friend
turning to the first page
she takes a deep breath
Whispering the first line… “Don’t forget to breathe”. BLUR, by Sreejit Poole, 2016
©Tournesol;’17/05/12
Blur by Sreejit Poole, 2016 – Amazon – Canada – Amazon – USA
Sreejit Poole is also a poet and blogger you can visit at TheSeekersDungeon
Daily Moments -May 12, 2017 – blessed days (Troibun)
Tournesol dans un Jardin 
