safe at night (haibun)

CLR 2014
CLR 2014

When I was very young before I even went to school, I remember making a space in my bed for my guardian angel.  I just believed there was someone special because my mother told me so. Those were years when it was quite turbulent at home with my father when he was inebriated.  I believe moving over in bed to keep that space available for my angel made me feel safe.

When I was six my GrandPapa died.  I have spoken many times about my maternal grandfather. I was living with him the year he was dying.  After he died, I never made room in my bed for my guardian angel for I always believed GrandPapa was always with me.  I would cram for exams at the last minute too many times and just before the test, I would ask my grandfather to help me remember the answers. All through elementary school, I would close my eyes at difficult questions and see the spot on the page in my science , history or geography book…I believed GrandPapa sent me cheat sheets because so many times I did not study enough in those earlier years.

When there was thunder and lightening, I was always very scared. GrandMaman would be so calm and look out the window at the lightening.  She would comfort me by telling me that GrandPapa was bowling up in heaven and that was the sound of the thunder.  He was playing for money, she said, which he would send her.  Perhaps she was trying to explain that her widow’s pension came from him.

I have a fan club up in heaven now, with many other relatives. But I always feel my grandfather is looking out for me and still pray or chant visualizing the face of my grandfather.

child in the night
felt a nudge and made room,
guardian angel

snow kissed cheek
wind whispers his presence
guardian angel

message from heaven
first snow covers the ground
guardian angel

© Tournesol ’14

Carpe Diem

farewell my friend (haibun)

Haibun Thinking

Haibun Thinking

LITERARY QUOTE PROMPT

“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading!
How much sooner one tires of anything than of a book!”
~ Jane Austen (Pride & Prejudice)

Reading a book is like meeting a new friend. Getting acquainted with their family and friends. Once immersed into a novel, I often get lost in “their world”. Such an escapism for me is rewarding and therapeutic.   It is my brief vacation in another world allowing my mind, heart and soul to detach from realities of life. Every break, every free moment, long bus and metro rides, I get to meet up with my new friend of the week.  Waiting in a line at the grocery store or department store, I pull out my book.  I forget myself so much that I chuckle out loud or weep.

If I am on the last chapter and either on the bus or at a café,  I will put the book down and wait to savour that last chapter quietly at home. I turn each page slowly, reading even slower,  because I am saying goodbye to a friend. Putting down the book, I rewind and fast forward images and memories of my friend’s story before finally saying goodbye.

lost in letters
forming new friends
enchanted am I

savouring
precious last words
the last chapter

melancholy tides,
turning the last page
whispering farewell

(c) Tournesol ’14

Golden glow (tan renga)

mystic purple flames
arise from the spirit’s stalks
chill my autumn heart © Panchali

bringing offerings to the gods
grateful for pointing the way (Chèvrefeuille)

© Clr ’14 Golden Tournesol
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platycodon_grandiflorus
© Clr ’15

mystic purple flames
arise from the spirit’s stalks
chill my autumn heart © Panchali

sunflower with golden glow
spreads a hint of warmth

blowing hope
through barren trees
whispers thanks in gusts

© Tournesol ‘14

Carpe Diem Tan Renga Challenge

I decided to add a haiku underlining American Thanksgiving.

snail munchies (haibun)

sammyblot – flickr

My childhood friend used to collect her eggshells starting in March up to May. She would crunch them into tiny pieces and put them in her flower beds to prevent snails from crawling in her garden. If they crawled too quickly (I doubt there’s a chance of that) or not cautiously, the eggshells would cut them. Ouch!! Poor little critters. Before you start feeling all sad about this, I just discovered they enjoy eating the eggshells, it is filled with calcium just perfect for their shells, like the photo above.  I wonder if my friend knew that part.

crawling gingerly
eggshells in flower beds
snail’s obstacle course

gourmet nutrient
eggshells in flower pot
snail munchies

© Tournesol ’14/11/13

Carpe Diem Little Creatures

juggling (haibun)

Years ago I was a teacher’s assistant for a university course.  It was a six credit, 2 semester course and one of the most challenging courses that was also a pre-requisite to stay in the programme.  It was not difficult due to the academia and theories…the self-discovery and soul searching were the toughest challenges.  I really enjoyed working with this professor. He had such a rich experience, having completed two masters in Thailand where he met his wife.  He asked each student to purchase 3 balls.  At the beginning of each class we spent ten minutes “trying” to juggle while the professor and I were taking attendance.  I had to juggle too and times I missed it at school, I tried it at home.  After Christmas, we were getting better and now we had to pair up with another person to juggle in pairs.  The purpose of the exercise, which he told us only on the last day of classes, was to try something different, to excel outside our comfort level, to be able to laugh at ourselves, make mistakes and see that it will not destroy us.  Lots of things we learned and more.

Juggling with too many things in life is another expression we use when referring to juggling. Doing too many things at the same time; unorganized, some will say if we juggle too many things. Interestingly in the true skill of juggling, you must be organized otherwise the items you juggle will fall. You have to keep your eyes open, move up to a rhythm to increase speed all by paying close attention to the task at hand.  So, actually, when we say you are juggling too many things at the same time, I find we really mean you took on too much…took on more than what we bargained for, etc.

My haiku starts out thinking of my juggling experience and then I added a few thinking of my grandmother, my mother, my daughter and myself…in life in general…raising a family, working, caring for family, sports, volunteering, car pooling, studying and the list goes on. Thank goodness I did not raise my family during the age of the internet…I would have never gotten anything done…(chuckles) I would have added writing and writing poetry.

The photo below shows a street performer at Montreal’s Old Port specially at Place Jacques Cartier where cobblestone streets are lined with shops, terraces, cafés and restaurants. It is a huge tourist attraction spring, summer and fall.

Performer Place Jacques Cartier – flickr

Place Jacques Cartier
street juggler defying
gravity

one two three four
starts the balls rolling…five, six
dazzling boys and girls

single parents
challenging deadlines
juggling day to day

one two three four
begins the week, five, six
call a friend

juggling in pairs
team work achieves so much more
that’s what friends are for.

© Tournesol ’14/11/13

 Carpe Diem Haiku Kai

I came across this cute video and since I love Pharrell Williams…well, it makes me “happy” to share this (grins)  Now tell me you were NOT tapping your foot, bobbing your head and swaying those hips after hearing this and I won’t believe you:)

Pharrell Williams – Happy (juggling)

halo on Mount Orford (Haibun)

Mont Orford on Lake Massawippi
Mont Orford on Lake Massawippi

The Eastern Townships are graced with many lakes and mountains. Lake Massawippi is one of those lakes facing Mount Orford and home to many lodges and camps for youths and adults. It is near St-Benoit du Lac, a monastery known for its amazing cheese. What a dream place to live in a small cottage like Wordsworth’s on Lake District and writing to my heart`s content surrounded by trees, water and mountains…and nature’s creatures bidding me good morning each day and the stars winking at me at night.

brunâtre du matin
roule doucement sur
le lac Massawippi
regard! la-haut au ciel
couronne sur Mont Orford

early rise
fog rolling slowly off
 Lake Massawippi
look! up to the heavens
halo on Mount Orford

© Tournesol ’14/11/11

Climat d’automne (haiga)

© Clr '14 fleuve St-Laurent
© Clr ’14 fleuve St-Laurent

 

autumn gusts
shudder ripples
on the river

~

rafales d’automne
frémissent des risées
sur le fleuve

20141016_135116_Android 1_2
© Clr ’14 November

seasonal rains
turn muddy paths into
frozen puddles

~
heading home last night
my cane slips on a patch,
leaves had turned to mulch

© Tournesol ’14

Carpe Diem Ghost Writer #33, Richard Wright on Autumn by Jen of Blog It Or Lose It

winter months (haiku)

autumn skunk

waddles through winter

full belly

© Tournesol ’14

symbiotic (haiku)

To follow the mood of this prompt at Carpe Diem,  our host has discussed the symbiosis of the birch tree and the mistletoe. Of course when one thinks of mistletoe, we are reminded of kissing during the Christmas holidays.

dew fresh mistletoe
her sweet scent warms my heart
my first kiss
© Chèvrefeuille

Here is my attempt of joining 2 separate things that form a synergy of sorts.

perfect mate,
peanut butter and jelly
sandwich

© Tournesol ‘14

In another slant thinking of emotional symbiosis, the mother and child attachment… the symbiotic connection.

mother goose
heading the flock waits,
honk of her gosling

*******

mère biche avertit
son faon d’une cachette
d’un braconnier

mother doe
warns her fawn
poacher’s cache

© Tournesol ‘14

Constellations (haibun)

Diana (Artemis) leaving the Bath

There are many myths about the how Big Bear and Little Bear who were apparently hoisted in the sky forever to be together.  I like this Greek myth. Callisto, a follower of Artemis, virgin huntress and goddess of the crescent moon.   Zeus, king of gods, fell in love with her; he disguised himself  as Artemis (Diana)  to gain her confidence.  Having  tricked her, she gave birth to his son, Arcas.

Hera, Zeus wife and queen of the gods,  discovered the affair and was known to be very jealous and vindictive.  It is said that she is the goddess of marriages and protects women.   She turned Callisto into a bear.  Sixteen years later this bear came upon her son and stood on her hind legs to greet him.  Arcas was about to kill the bear and Zeus interfered to save his love and turned Arcas into a small bear. Grabbing both bears by their tails, Zeus hurled them into the safety of the sky to roam forever, together in the sky.   Hera enraged that her attempt had failed, appealed to Oceanus that the two might never meet his waters, hence explaining their circumpolar positions.

There are more myths that contradict this such as Arcas became king of Arcadia, but being a mom, I like the idea of mother and son together forever.  So here is my haiku with the photo of the grizzly in mind.

© Grizzly Bear Lodges

beneath countless stars

big bear searches for her cub

on starlit path

© Tournesol ’14

Carpe Diem “Time glass” Big Bear

 If you would like to read further:

Callisto – mythology

Windows2Universe – Constellations

Night Sky – Ursa Major – Ursa Minor