light (haiku)

spring radiates
stirring new beginnings
…and promise

natural shelter (kikôbun)

Early in the morning, raindrops on fresh cut grass tickled her feet. She stopped a moment to listen to her friends chirp ‘bon matin’. Spade in one hand, box of marigolds in the other, she reached her vegetable garden. Kneeling at the edge, she set the spade aside. No need for metal when the earth was still loose and wet. Digging bare hands in the rich soil, the feel on her fingers made her feel alive; the earthy scents of soil, clay and last night’s drizzle awakened her sense of being. She planted the marigolds outlining the entire garden and got a whiff of the pungent, musky scent, pleasing to humans yet, repugnant to insects.

Wikipedia

morning drizzle
oozes pleasant scents
petrichor

alluring scents,
insects run away
marigolds

© Tournesol ’15

CP Time Machine, ‘perfume’

fleeting hope (tan renga)

feeling alone
in the woods around Edo –
just the autumn wind (Yozakura)
colorful leaves dancing
through the abondend city (Chèvrefeuille)

feeling alone
in the woods around Edo
just the autumn wind
whirlwind of panache
fleeting splash of colours

blurs cluttered minds
lost in a sea
self-pity

April skies (haibun)

As soon as the alarm went off, she jumped out of bed and pulled the curtain in her bedroom.

“Oh boy! she said, “The snow has melted everywhere!”

She shuffles towards the kitchen, screaming, “MAMA!!, can I wear my new Easter shoes to school to day…pretty please!!”

Her mother is packing her daughter’s lunch and turns her head towards the kitchen window.

“Well love, you know the earth is still frozen, it may be too cold…I don’t know…” her voice trails as she looks at the thermometer outside by the window sill.”

Ah Mama, puleeeze, I promise to wear my thick tights. Come on, Mama, it skips better in shoes,” she whines preparing to pout, “I’m brining my skipping rope to school for recess…pretty please!!” she raises her baby blues pleading to her mother…

“Oh, alright”, her heart melts at those blue liquid eyes.

April skies beckon
walking in her brand new shoes
blossoms await

Photo actually taken at five in the afternoon April 16, 2015.

Last slow breath (haibun)

Le “cordonier mal chaussé” is often what her peers call her teasingly. When a young person calls her crisis line and is having a panic attack, she asks him to put one hand on his belly, then walks him through mindful breathing and eventually a guided imagery. Breathing in, the belly inflates like a balloon, breathing out, the belly flattens.

So many youths and adults tend to label themselves as suffering from some form of anxiety; however, there are also many youths who hear this “term” but have not been properly diagnosed. Living in a society of information overload it is no wonder many practice “googlism” as they surf the internet.

A young person may call for help with anxiety. The counsellor shakes her head when the youth answers her question to “Where did you get that diagnosis?” and it is “Oh, I googled it.” She shakes her head in dismay as she listens to the youth through her earpiece.

This counsellor, too must learn to practice some form of mindful breathing in order to find balance in her life. She chants daily on her walks or when she is upset; and so many times when her mind won’t shut off and slowly it reduces her breathing and she is able to finally be in control of her breath.

Sitting in a park or garden, she connects with an inner peace hearing only her breath and faint chirps. Her ultimate reward is sitting on the rooftop witnessing that giant golden star slip beneath the horizon and she is thankful to be alive and be part of this universe.

final brush strokes
transform hues on canvas
last slow breath

last slow breath
at one with the heavens
life’s cycle

Carpe Diem “Pranayana – Controlled breath”

Le “cordonier mal chaussé” literal translation, shoemaker with bad shoes, meaning not practicing what one preaches.

woods party (tanka)

woods party
strumming on a Fender
crackling fire
singing late into the night
pine needles in their hair

Haiku Horizons – Needle

Mom’s morning routine (Solo Renga)

Photo credits: VavoomyVintage blog

new dawn chirps
neighbour’s hound barks at sparrows
infant wails

gulls squawk broadcasts new day
Ah!! last gasps of espresso

eager suckling
mama coos at precious babe
creaking rocker soothes

Heeding Haiku with HA at MindLoveMiserysMenagerie

leaving the nest (haibun)

At Carpe Diem, we are asked to write a haibun to the haiku written by Kala Ramesh., Taking Flight. The narrative and haiku must not be more thatn 150 words. Here is my narrative.

*******************************

Her mother told her she was her “baton de veillesse”. Every birthday, her mother repeated the story that she was conceived on a Sunday afternoon. “You were planned. You are special.”

She knew what her mother meant with those innuendos and guilt trips, “after all I did for you.” When she finished college, she had to return home to help her parents support her three younger siblings.

“Is this my calling?” she often asked the Great Spirit. She felt this responsibility getting heavier each year. Once the youngest sibling had fled the nest to marry, she too decided it was time.

One June night, she left in the wee hours of the morning never looking back.

Cher Maman & Papa,
Merci de me donner la vie; maintenant je vais la vivre.
Votre fille, bien aimée xx

(147 words)

Baton de viellesse is a French expression meaning that child has a duty to take care of her parents when they age. It was probably often used before pensions or social security existed.