Poetry ~ Waka
[…] “Paradox is the life of haiku, for in each verse some particular thing is seen, and at the same time, without loss of its individuality and separateness, its distinctive difference from all other things, it is seen as a no-thing, as all things, as an all-thing.” […] (Chèvrefeuille) Carpe Diem Technical Writing – Paradox
Seeking truths
here and everywhere
blinded by tales
~
pivotal escapes,
search for dreams high and low
caught in realities
© Tournesol ’15/11/26
waiting room
a patch of sunlight
wears out the chairs
© Jane Reichhold
restless birds
flock safely before the storm
wildlife hide in wait
© Tourenesol’15/11/25
Walking home late a night one would think she should be frightened. But not tonight with the light of that bright moon. The moon was almost full under a clear sky. Tomorrow it will a perfect circle but she didn’t take a chance. “What if it rains? What if the sky is filled with snow clouds?” No, she would not take a chance and tries to capture the greatness of this moon. The air is cooler than the past few weeks and it smells like snow should be coming very soon. Yes, at minus 4C the next precipitations would surely snow.
She removes her leather gloves to manipulate her smart phone to take the photo. It is nippy and she can see her breath blow white smoke. On this long dark street filled with old warehouses of the 1940’s slowly transforming into funky lofts.
November full moon was called Full Beaver Moon or Full Frost Moon since it was a time when Native Americans would set their traps before the swamps froze. (Farmer’s Almanac)
Click…and off she continues on her journey home. Seconds before arriving, she notices her shadow in front of her was a fatter version of her, to her right was a paler shorter shadow and to her left a tall stretched out version of her. No, she has no reason to be scared on her walks home…she definitely has plenty of company.
Setting up traps
before water freezes over
Beaver Full Moon
Beaver Full Moon
accompanies her home
lights up her path
© Tournesol’15/11/24
Beethoven-Moonlight Sonata (Mvt. 1)
Inspired by Ese’s haiku as well as her beautiful introduction of who she is, a haiku poetess. Here is a description she shared about herself:
I BELIEVE
that every journey begins with a single step, laughter really is contagious and family isn’t a word but a sentence;
that there are no better antiques than old friends;
in a difficult climb to earn the view from the top of the mountain;
that when I am good I am very good, but somehow I seem to be better when I am bad;
in „The God Of Small Things”, „The Kite Runner” , „My Poor Marat” and „The Prophet” as much as I believe in „The Little Prince”;
in coffee, green tea, caramel ice-cream and crème brûlée;
in Indian summer, winter twilight and pouring rain;
that rugby is like war – easy to start, difficult to stop and impossible to forget;
in music of different forms, colors, tongues and rhythms;
that it takes two to tango…
I am a Believer.
I think our days would be more meaningful if everyone believed in something. Either yourself, a flight to the Moon or simply tomorrow. Viva La Vida!
Such wonderful words, such a wonderful poem … that’s who Ese is … a Believer …
After closing her WP weblog she started a new weblog on Tumblr (also called “Ese’s Voice”) and that’s the place where she often posts new haiku or re-blogs haiku from other wonderful haiku poets.
Here is her haiku that has inspired my haibun:
inevitable
the dance of a falling leaf
with a snowflake
© Ese
*****************
The first snowfall allows everyone to become a child again. And why not? As a child, you don’t worry about slippery roads or traffic jams. A child sees that moment…feeling it, smelling it and hearing it. Yes, one does hear the snow fall. Just listen carefully in the nighttime when all is totally still and sounds of the weight of all those snowflakes falling…not tinkles like that of rain but sounds of ten thousands marching ants …an ever so faint echo.
A child can close her eyes and imagines skating on a pond, under a clear sky; she’s a ballerina on ice. She dreams she is fast, strong yet elegant. Snow falls gently on the pond but not enough to hide the lines cut on the surface of the ice from the sharp blades of her skates, as she dances on the ice and pirouettes like une danseuse of the Nutcracker Prince.
that first snowflake
like a child, she squeals with joy
melts on her tongue
melts on her tongue
inevitably, another snowflake
on her nose
© Tournesol ’15/11/24
Our host, Chèvrefeuille, at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai explains that “Tengri” means ‘sky worship’; haiku is part of Tengrism … look around you …. see the signs of nature and read them … just read them.
*****************
On her walk Sunday, she was attracted by the sounds of hundreds of birds chirping in several trees. Her head up she sees flocks of birds flying south. What were these birds doing in the trees. It was nippy that day as well with very cool winds. She regretted not having brought an extra sweater to put under her spring coat, better still, her winter coat would have been a much wiser choice.
So many birds were flying past this tree filled with birds. “Perhaps they are resting before flying further south,” she thought. She stopped to take in the concert and listen to the birds harmonize. Such wonder to stop for a moment and breathe in nature’s richness, even in a big city!
A collective
birds plan their long journey
gathered together
gathered together
sort out their pecking orders,
sing in harmony
sing in harmony
she listens with reverence,
nature’s grace
© Tournesol ’15/11/24
gibier d’automne
recettes de Grandmaman,
baies de genévrier
baies de genévrier
assurent une meilleure digestion,
une bonne haleine
une bonne haleine
les baies de genévrier dotent
des bisous sensuels
des bisous sensuels –
s’effondre dans ses bras
quel long soupir!
© Tournesol’15
(translation)
autumn wild game
Grandmother’s recipes
juniper berries
juniper berries
insure better digestion
freshens breath
freshens breath
juniper berries rouse
sultry kisses
sultry kisses,
collapses in his arms
that long sigh
© Tournesol ’15
The prompt last Wednesday is a lovely narrative of spring and why our host, Chèvrefeuille loves this season. I, too, love this time year, filled with fresh new beginnings. The promise of life, rebirth, flowers blossoming, birds nestling and nature finally coming alive after a long peaceful rest.
Our host wrote this haibun on the first day of spring. There is still snow on the ground here in Québec, end of March with a few risks of snow storms. What gives one hope is seeing those tulip bulbs that were planted in the fall, burgeoning in March and April. Well, unless of course a rabbit or squirrel munched on the bulbs during the winter. One must plant double the amount to make sure a floral harvest. My favourites are red tulips.
one tulip stretches
budding red peaks through white quilts
first day of spring
first day of spring
sleeping beauty awakens
blushing promise
© Tournesol’15
Inspired by Ese’s haiku at CDHK
inevitable
the dance of a falling leaf
with a snowflake
***************
first snowfall
finally
sorrows veiled
first snowfall
leaves,
grief to rest
finally
lifts weight of shadows
balance restored
veiled sorrows
giddiness of snowflakes
pretence of joy
© Tournesol ’15
Ils avaient voyagé pendant deux jours et une nuit; la montée devenait de plus en plus téméraire. Ils se sont arrêtés dans les petits villages situés au long du chemin pour se reposer. En causant avec les villageois ils leurs demandaient conseils sur leur excursion jusqu’à l’Himalaya.
Un vieil homme était assis, les jambes croisées dans un petit cachot derrière le loge où ils ont été pour la nuit; il semblait en transe, endormi et rêvait peut-être. Les voyageurs ont été émus par le sourire éthéré sur les lèvres du vieillard.
l’intermède de l’ombre
quasi portée de la main
la danse des étoiles
© Tournesol ’15
running late,
circles the Ovoo just once,
crossing herself
© Tournesol ’15/11/20
Tournesol dans un Jardin 