loving embrace (haibun)

Sitting on the shore, she ponders on life.  Flashes of her youth, her marriage and promises kept as long as she could, for the sake of the children. Guilt weighed her for years wishing she could have controlled happiness for those she loves until she finally learned.  Happiness is an attitude. One can get caught up in the happiness trap, hanging on to misery, self-effacing tapes repeated in our minds or letting go and letting be.  Hanging on to “feel good” thoughts and images, mirroring the goodness within is her guide now for the rest of her journey.

 

© Karuna’s sunset in India , LivingLearningandLettingGo

Mother Nature soothes
cradling her stellar babe
tranquil surrender
compassion embraced
warmth slipping into deep sleep

© Tournesol ‘2016/01/20

When I saw these breathtaking photos at LivingLearningandLettingGo, I could not help but see a mother cradling her infant, the way the sun seems lulled on the horizon. Karuna was generous enough to allow me to post her photos for my reflections here.

cease the fight (tanka)

speak the truth
starts with the first step
sets you free
cease the fight, honour wins
stand tall – wind at your back

© Tournesol ’16/01/19

Written for the Secret Keeper writing prompt:

(5) Words: | WIND | SPEAK | FREE | START | FIGHT

right to choose (tanka)

rolling the dice
little or no control
death and dying
once felt luck of the draw
right to die changes the stakes

© Tournesol ’16/01/19

Daily Moments January 20 2016 R.I.P. Glenn Frey (haibun)

In their twenty’s they  became friends with their neighbours downstairs from their duplex. Finally, she met a Quebecois couple who appreciated her music too! They would spend hours in the “music room” listening to vinyl turning on their Technique blasting from their Pioneer speakers and later their Avid.

© Clr’16

Hours  getting drunk on the music…no need for drugs here. Hotel California was played over and over and over so many times. It’s a wonder the vinyl didn’t wear out but it wouldn’t , now would it with quality diamonds turning on that record.

©Clr’16

The strings to this song lifted them to places no drug could ever bring them. RIP, Glenn Frey!

time has hastened
another legend dies
before his time

© Tournesol ’16/01/20

Daily Moments January 20 2016

shattered dreams (haiku)

gulls stand guard
snow speckled sand dunes
broken promises

©Tournesol ’16/01/19

snow drifts (haibun)

 

Walking home was not easy with a sore shoulder, bruised knee and back that felt like her spine was made up of toothpicks. The chill was tolerable in her down filled parka but the weight of her backpack on that bad shoulder and bad hand resting her cane made coming home to a warm bath her only goal.

©'16

snow drifts
mounds of white block her path
wind at my back

©Tournesol’16/01/19

Daily Moments January 19/16

Daily Moments January 18’16 – Blue Monday (haiku)

It snowed all night and continued snowing lightly as she left for work.  The sidewalk had not yet been ploughed so the nice cushion of snow seemed nice and safe; she decided to brave the walk without studs on her boots. The snow was fluffy like talcum powder. She stops facing the sun that is trying to peak through the clouds and soaks up the beauty briefly.

evergreens
serene and chic
perpetual grace

Content with the view, she continues on her way to the bus and then she slips…where the heck that patch of ice waits mockingly under that pure whiteness. She could have been a clown at the Shriner’s Circus with flailing arms, wrestling with her backpack and wobbly knees…which would reach gravity first? It was a tie! Left knee crashes to the sneering ice and body is pulled by weight of her backpack crashing her shoulder to the ground. Not an easy feat to get up…Oh, yes, of course, she forgets to remove that 20 pound bag. She is whining now, from the pain, slightly feeling defeated and sorry for herself and then she remembers her collapsible cane is in her bag which saves the day. Onward and forward, she limps slowly.

mounting the bus
awkward but determined
with her cane
pokes a teen off assigned seating
deserving and pleased

© Tournesol ’16/01/18

Daily Moments January 18  2016

Interesting that today is Blue Monday the most depressing day of the year.

cherry blossoms – troiku

A lovely prompt to write a haiku about cherry blossoms in our mother tongue with the English translation.  English is my mother tongue, so I have translated in French which is my second language and “the” language of my province. Here is my troiku about cherry blossoms.

cherry blossoms
majestic and generous
shade lovers kissing

cherry blossoms
budding promise
love is in the air

majestic and generous
pink showers
silken petals fall

shade lovers kissing
a love story
in spring

fleurs de cerisier
des amants s’embrassent sous l’arbre
imposantes et généreux

fleurs de cerisier
promesse bourgeonne
un aire d’amour

des amants s’embrassent sous l’arbre
une histoire d’amour
au printemps

imposantes et généreuses
corolles soyeuses déversent
une cascade rosée

©Tournesol’16/01/17

renaissance (haiga)

skies revealed

blue renaissance
skies revealed after the snow
nature’s recompense

renaissance blue

renaissance bleu
  ciel révélé après la neige
 une récompense de la nature

 

©Tournesol’16

Jan 17 Daily Moments (haiga) snow views

white carpets

white carpets
under grey skies
arresting homes

Walking to the grocery store, she stopped now and then took photos of the landscapes. Her focus was the front door of most houses all adorned with their winter addition. Can you see the common theme here?

 

©Clr’16
©Clr’16
©Clr’16

shovel house

winter home
seasonal fixture rests
geared up for snow

Temperatures rose in the afternoon melting the snow in the streets adding puddles on the side that were not pedestrian friendly.  She regretted wearing her white parka.

Yet, it was still pleasant walking in the mild weather just barely zero Celsius… no need to wear a hat was a nice treat to feel the wind blow in her hair; walking was slow due to the snow-covered sidewalks but still nice. Sidewalks are not plowed in most residential areas. A crow flew overhead and she noticed for the first time the thick winter nests for birds that were brave to stay here and not fly south.

pine haiga

snow dusted pine
cradling soft whiteness
dressed for winter

©Tournesol’16/01/16