nouvel an (tanka)

© Clr '14 Colombe
 Colombe

marking the end
she flies up above the clouds
hail of a prelude
a dove joins them in the heavens
angels, our guides from above
~
marque de la fin
elle vole au dessus des nuages
éloge d’un prélude
une colombe les rejoignent dans le ciel
les anges, nos guides de là-haut

© Tournesol ’14

Carpe Diem “Departing Year”

bleu lavande (haibun)

© Bleu Lavande, Fitch Bay, Québec

Many farmers give directions very differently than city people are accustomed to. Living in a very small town we would chuckle a bit when asking for directions when looking for directions to get the best sweet corn or my favourite apples that were usually the first category that came out early in the season…Lobo of course, juicy and tart they made your lips pucker.

Directions were often turn left at the red silo and at the fork keep to your right until you get to the Old School House make a sharp left behind the speed limit sign…careful now, you might miss it if you are admiring that old school…city folks are always dazzled by that plain old building. Now keep on going until you get to the Willow Tree. If your windows are open you should smell the lavender field just over the hill. Across the road a fair bit, Fontaine’s tractor should be parked with his trailer full of fresh picked corn of the morning and the afternoon if you come by before supper.

Our host has given us one last haiku by Richard Wright:

keep straight down this block,
then turn right where you will find
a peach tree blooming © Richard Wright

This is to inspire us to write in that same tone…the blossoms made me think of various scents of certain trees and plants blossoming. How fitting to include the poignant and soothing scent of lavender!

I have included a link here, describing Mr. Pellerin’s story on how he started his venture in the largest lavender farm, Bleu Lavande,  in Canada and second largest in North America. I find his story fascinating. His farm is situated in the Eastern Townships about an hour and half drive from Montreal.

passed the Willow tree
just over the hill, explosion
of lavender

© Tournesol ’14

Carpe Diem Special

legends of the past (tan renga)

© Paloma, BlotItorLoseIt

ancient laughter
captured in a canyon wind –
yucca leaves, rustling © Paloma

ancestors sighing
legends of their past © Tournesol ‘14

gust picks up
piercing echoes trail
forbidden secrets

© Tournesol ‘14

Carpe Diem Tan Renga Challenge “Jen’s Ancient Laughter”

promised under the stars (haiga)

© Gallery Hip

Blades cutting,
lovers embraced skate
under the stars

lovers embraced skate
searching for the full moon
behind the clouds

under the stars
lovers make promises
beneath the Milky Way

© Tournesol ’14

Carpe Diem

White Christmas (haibun)

© Clr '14-12-11
© Clr ’14-12-11

December 23rd, the temperatures rose over 10 degrees Celsius. It was springtime weather at the end of December.  Two days of rain cleaned the streets, sullied snow banks and melted most of the snow. Makes it doubly hard for half-doubters..one of my three grandsons… to still believe but painstaking stories, Crosby’s songs and want-to-believe children makes it still happen…one more year.

grey puddles
born from melted snow
earth’s enigma

~

White Christmas
fairy-tales echo
crooner’s refrain

© Tournesol ’14

Carpe Diem White Christmas

fears lit candles (haiga)

 © Clr '14
© Clr ’14

shimmering and lush
reflecting six eyes hoping
Christmas magic.

tall and proud
craves admiration
fire its foe

© Tournesol ’14

CP- Christmastree

near you (haiku)

Caroline Michaud Photographie
© Caroline Michaud Photographie

breathing,
when I’m near you
quickens

when I’m near you
sun never sets
heart liquifies

quickens
my pulse and breathing
heavier.

© Tournesol ’14

Haiku Horizons “near”

magical night (choka- haiku)

 Vincent van Gogh said about this painting :

"... it does me good to do what’s difficult. That doesn’t stop me having a tremendous need for, shall I say the word — for religion — so I go outside at night to paint the stars"
The Starry Night /Emote Version by spring-sky
© The Starry Night /Emote Version by spring-sky @ Deviantart

walking to the store
found it windy and chilly

felt my hands frosting
forgetting my gloves at home

hands in my pocket
writhed along slippery paths

looked up at the sky
so many glistening stars

mouth open in awe
dazed by such magnificence

this massive ceiling
of art looms over my head

exhaled sigh of bliss
feeling blessed to be alive

I smiled at the moon
“could I have seen him wink back?”

a fairy-tale night
I could feel it in my bones

something wonderful
would be happening tonight

I then felt a bump
with an awkward step, I slipped
fell flat on my back
arms spread to make snow angels
I winked back at the Moon.

~

 sudden gust
snow circled around me
angels appeared

© Tournesol ’14

CP Ghost Writer Georgia of Bastet and Sekhmet’s Library

Carpe Diem “Angels”

shooting stars/étoiles filantes

shooting stars
escape while trodden skies
swallow me
°°°
étoiles filantes
fuient tandis un ciel éteint
m’avale

© Tournesol ’14