Voracious predators (haibun)

She was so proud of her beautiful lilies and loved to sit by the patio window and admire each new blossom that appeared each day. But then she was puzzled one fine morning, noticing holes in the leaves…she could not see any insects and hoped the rain that day would wash away whatever was nibbling away at her Mother’s Day bouquet.

A few days later, she saw an insect and thought at first it was a beetle…a harmless little potato bug. A few days later, however, she thought differently…

perplexed invasion
outlandish as this may seem
Eurasian bugs skulk
nibble on leaves of lilies
voracious scarlet beetles

©Tournesol’16/06/08

Daily Moments – June 8 2016 – Voracious predators

Three Word Wednesday – Perplexed, outlandish, nibble

pays des chateaux (haiku)

land of castles
fairy tales in tall forests
sweet scented roses

***

pays des châteaux
forêts enchantés
parfum d’une rose

©Tournesol’16-06-07

compassion rules (haiku)

It is such a pleasure to read this Tokubetsudesu episode at Carpe Diem today. We are honouring Milan Rajkumar who was the runner-up of the “new life” kukai. He lives in Impal, Manipur, India. I am tempted to visit there someday if ever I am fortunate enough to visit India. ..perhaps one day before heading more south to Kerala.
This is the haiku that finished second in this kukai

lifeless for a season
pupa inside the ocean
spring gives life and wings
© milan rajkumar

What a beautiful haiku with many underlying messages on life.
In my mind, Milan is number one and I am often inspired by his beautiful haiku. Wrapped in humility, he writes thought provoking and evocative poetry. A teacher by day and poet and thinker tween times…and yet, does a haiku poet not think each moment of the day, savouring and locking into one’s heart and soul?
Here is another haiku filled with eloquence…

across the lake
a skipping pebble
kingfisher
© milan rajkumar

And the poem that inspired my haiku is this wonderful tanka written in response to the Latifa Prayer episodes.

frog on lotus leaf
sitting and admiring
lotus bloom
does it care the snake
which looms behind
© milan rajkumar

When I read this lovely poem, it reminds me of our widowed GrandMaman who took my mother, sister and me into her home. Regardless of how little she had, her love for boundless.

burgeoning love
une grandmère spares little
worm curls in rich soil

worm curls in rich soil
bed of fruitful promises
compassion grows

compassion grows
like a field of golden rod
ruling God’s earth

©Tournesol’16/06/07

Daily moments of reflection – Compassion rules June 7 2016

at the end of the day (haiku)

top of the blue pine
robin serenades her chicks
sun light slowly fades

©Tournesol’16/06/07

Written to Ronovanwrites weekly haiku poetry prompt: top & light

one single ripple (troibun)

We are to use this beautiful haiku to inspire our writing…

lights along the shore
shimmering reflections
ripple in the lake
© Joyce Lorenson

She remembers telling her youths many times how grief is like a tidal wave at first with waves crashing on the shore with such a vengeance. Over time the waves roll in with restraint and eventually over time, intermittently until they roll in no longer. Eventually, the water is clear like a mirror safe for a single ripple…

reminder
gentle ripple on the water
memories of long ago

reminder
times she held me close,
brings a smile

gentle ripple on the water
subtle, yet genuine
and surreal

memories of long ago
songs echo in my heart
even if off-key

©Tournesol`16/06/07

Daily Moments – June 6 2016 – Ramadan mubarak (haiku)

fasting all day long
not even a sip of water
sundown saves the day

©Tournesol`16/06/07

a taste of Italy (haiku)

Trace of grapes
harvesting all day long
lingers on his lips

lingers on his lips
stirring passion to the mix
taste of grappa

©Tournesol’16/06/06

goose feathers embrace (troibun)

Georgia (BastetamdSekhmet) has been my friend from afar (Italy) and mentor in writing poetry of every form, having first discovered her through prompts at “We drink because we’re Poets”. It is through her I learned more about haiku and discovered Carpe Diem. I especially enjoy her morning haiku and waka (Japanese poetry form) and here is one that I have chosen to share. This morning waka inspired me to compose this troiku.

morning chill
raindrops fall on these flowers
awaiting May warmth

laying in bed
listening to the raindrops
warm under the sheets
drifting in and out of sleep
so hard to leave my dreams

those chiming bells
echoing in this loneliness
their hollow call

I chose this haiku and waka because it reminded me when I would wake up from a nice dream. Many times I could go back to sleep and pick up from where I left off…but when my deceased mom visits in my sleep, I cannot seem to bring her back.

new dawn grips
throws me in hibernation
goose feathers embrace

new dawn grips
wilted petal drops
ending my dream

throws me in hibernation
seeking what is familiar
her warm presence

goose feathers embrace
playing make-believe
Mother’s still here

Daily Moments – weekend’s end (senryu)

tends to her garden
waiting for blossoms
home sweet home

parasites
invade her lilies
try to call it home

weekend ends
pleasant conversation
with a new friend

reunion (tan renga)

a tear trickles
recalling that last season

memories spool back
split second flicks
fast-forward

arrested in mind’s eye
a smile forms on our lips

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: