Poetry ~ Waka
This prompt brought me to a monastery in the Eastern Townships, about an hour’s drive from Montreal near Magog at Saint Benoit du lac where monks do not only pray but they are known for their cheese.
au petit matin
et le vent montagneux
soufflant des cantiques
jumelant avec les moines
un pinson gazouille en harmonie
early morn
and mountain wind
blowing hymns
accompanying the monks
a finch tweets in harmony
© Tournesol ’14
Wandering
looking for home
got lost
lost again
turning in circles
unlisted number
soul searching
chanting my mantra,
I’ve come home
© Tournesol ‘14
Most people are bi-cultural or multicultural…let’s face it. In North America we are are blended in that huge melting pot. What IS interesting is how one identifies himself. I sometimes envy French Québecois who feel so sure of their identity. My mother always presented herself as a bilingual Canadian. I guess that is the only way I can see myself too. I cherish both languages/cultures that have woven the tapestry of who I am today.
lonely soapbox,
sometimes my views get
lost in translation
*
on the fence
each side
tears me apart
© Tournesol ‘14
This last one was just having fun thinking of Kerouac’s road trip for almost a month when he wrote On the Road.
six day bender
sex, love and rock ‘n roll,
day of rest
© Tournesol ‘14
In my search for riverbeds, rocks and deserts for Carpe Diem Tan Renga Challenge “River Stones” by Magical Mystery Teacher ,I came upon another great find. Apparently this recording has gone viral on YouTube since March 2014, one that I had yet to see.
For centuries this dry area, a massive creek bed, has seen the disappearance and return of water in a series of flash floods. I found it fascinating that the Zin river in the Negev desert suddenly transformed due to heavy rains from the mountains. This river runs 75 miles long and drains into the Dead Sea. (read more here)
In the Old Testament it is said, that Moses sent twelve spies to cross the Promised Land and that the Zin River, in biblical times, marked the border of Israel.
Now watch this video and you will see as these bystanders also witnessed the flow of water into a once barren river. I had to watch it twice so I could immerse in my feelings of that moment of wonder. It felt like the Great Spirit was smiling down on our planet in one part of the world, in the Negev desert.
in a desert land
stones from rivers far away
muttering dark tales © MMT
youths too young to understand
they pitch for future games © Tournesol
wonder heaves
water floods murky tales
born-again river
© Tournesol ‘14
Carpe Diem Tan Renga Challenge, Magical Mystical Teacher “River Stones”
I was so pleased to see this haiku offered as our prompt to complete a tan renga. When I first saw it, I could think of so many completions simmering in my mind. I sat with pen on notebook, scratched a few but was not satisfied. I decided to do some research. One thing ( of many) I like about Carpe Diem is that our host as well as many of his family members often add a tidbit, a story, a history or background about the topic accompanying their stanza. Sometimes it is written, other times it is a video but certainly it is enough to inform readers of something they may not have known. So imagine how wonderful it is to learn more how to master (I’ll settle with compose for now) a haiku but to acquire knowledge about nature and the world around us. I can name just a few of whom I have learned so much at the top of my head such as Hamish Gunn, Waka Blogitorloseit , Jules’Gems and our host and yes, I know I am missing many…but remember, I said at the “top” of my head, there are many more on the first floor!
Searching under themes like desert and river rocks, I discovered several interesting stories. A story of the Wild West was my first stop but then I wanted to learn something of which I had no clue…and I came up with two. To facilitate reading, I am writing two separate posts.
Over 9,000 years ago monsoon rains swept into the Sahara desert. This allowed regions to be transformed into habitable areas for humans and animals…beyond the Nile Valley. It was between 9,000 to 7,300 years ago that also led to the introduction of domesticated livestock like sheep and goats. I find that so fascinating! I wonder which animals were bred. I am sure it is written somewhere…
Retreating monsoons eventually stopped and the Egyptian Sahara revisited its “dry spell” and inhabitants had to leave; many returned to the Nile Valley. I wonder what life was like then, how they communicated…they did leave traces with stone etchings.
in a desert land
stones from rivers far away
muttering dark tales © MMT
echoes beyond Nile Valley
silent stories etched in stone © Tournesol
monsoon gives birth
burgeoning life
drought takes it back.
© Tournesol
Related article and photo credits: Live Science – Sahara Desert
Fallen leaves,
needy for fertile grounds
geese honk
~
naked tree,
defensive and forlorn
squirrel on a wire
~
loneliness
besieged by barren trees,
unwelcome guest
© Tournesol ’14
Carpe Diem Special #114, Shiba Sonome’s 4th “longing for someone”
wistfully
stirring her cup of tea,
milk curdles
~
weeping salty tears,
pillow case no longer
carries his scent
or
weeping
on a pillow case,
scents lost
Carpe Diem Special # 113, Shiba Sonome’s 4th “longing for someone”
Respect everybody. Bow with folded hands before all. Do not talk in a loud voice before elders and venerable persons. Look at the toes while you walk. See the Lord in all and feel that you are His servant and so the servant of all. Consider none as inferior to you.
Humility … not easy I think. As I use to say while I am reading comments and compliments is that I am just your humble host and I am proud to be your host. Together we stand in our love for haiku … I am an addict to haiku and I am just glad that I may share all I know about haiku.
Humility … a very strong ity … one we have to cherish and promote …
snowdrops
standing tall, but rooted
bow their head
© Chèvrefeuille
I hope to publish our next episode next Tuesday, I hope…
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Our Ghost Writer at Carpe Diem today is Gary Gay and our inspiration is October as the first full autumn month. I love that that photo chosen with vibrant colours is in Québec and near the Richelieu River where I raised my family.
Gary asks us to “Think outside the Box” when you use Halloween topics. It can be a good source of humour as well. Here is his example of thinking outside the box or misdirection.
My skeleton
going for a walk
in the cemetery © Gary Gay
The poem has a subject of death and yet Gary’s skeleton is still alive.
Here is my attempt in both languages in honour of that lovely autumn photo in Québec dans la Vallée du Richelieu
mains en prière
parlant à GrandPapa,
lui! sait m’écouter
~
hands clasped,
speaking to GrandPapa…
he! truly listens
© Tournesol ’14
Now for a the Halloween theme. Every Halloween I would dress up with my children so neighbours would NOT recognize me. Part of it was the fun of dressing up and walking around incognito and the other reason, I did not want neighbours to favour my children with extra treats. But I DID get treats as well…no one knew if I was man or women…they would talk to me in English to see if I was ME and I’d shrug my shoulders; they would try in French to see if I was the children’s father, and I would shrug again.
One year I dressed up as Count Dracula., with black dye in my short hair slicked back wearing a red lined long black cape. I had the pointy teeth and everything and traces of blood dripping from my lips in each side. As we arrived at the crescent there was a mom with very young children. One little girl looked up at me and started crying. I felt so bad but hugging her would surely have traumatized her more. I never wore scary outfits thereafter and dressed as a hobo the remaining years.
blood stained chin
black cloak blows in autumn wind,
little girl wails
© Tournesol ’14
I love sipping tea in porcelain tea cups. My great aunt bequeathed her collections to my father and I now have them in the same curio my Auntie Mae O’Donnell had. Although the tradition is on my Father’s side, my aunt being Irish, my mother taught me how to brew my tea as young as five. She would let me drink it in espresso cups which was just right for my tiny fingers.
My grandson loved to drink tea as well and would choose his tea cup whenever it was tea time. One day I invited my friend and her daughter who was grandson`s playdate. Well! I set up their tea cups with the tea pot brewing their tea. Ah, the cute things they do at five. I doubt he would want to even admit doing this now that he is 10.
I had a dear friend living next door…
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artfully pouring tea,
a geisha dances
flute’s harmony
(c) Tournesol ’14
Tournesol dans un Jardin 
