Tag: poem

illuminating teardrops (haibun)

© Clr '15
© Clr ’15

The small tree outside my front window is no longer bare this lovely winter.  It has gems dangling like crystals and diamonds. I had not noticed that before…the ice storm a few weeks ago had coated it completely with crystals but many had thawed, some had fallen but some have  hung on for dear life…

life of a gem
survived darkness forever
life outside the mines

survived darkness
gives sparkle and life
northern winters

life outside darkness
hanging on those twiggy arms
crystal jewels

© Tournesol ’15

life is messy (haiga)

At Carpe Diem Sparkling Stars, our inspirational haiku by Shiki:

when I looked back,
the man who passed
was lost in the mist © Masaoka Shiki

wakeful moments
just mistaken reveries
rolling into days

day after day
lost in a sea of fog
life is messy

old woman
chips away at what was home
lost in whiteout

© Tournesol `15

TABLET - WIN_20131215_095140 whiteout

lines in the sky (Tan Renga)

trail of secret
woven into the clear sky
~ first spiritual journey (© Sky)

fused in contemplation
probe wit in broken lines

blue skies
hold the canvas
scrutiny

© Tournesol ’15

Photo credits: Dark Sky Diaries

CP Tan Renga Challenge

Farmers’ market (haibun)

Marché Jean-Talon – Montréal

Going to the farmers’ market as a young child was an adventure. My grandmother would take me and I enjoyed the social aspect of it. Farmers chatting with GrandMaman, so many knew her for she was a midwife and probably assisted many births in those farm houses.  It was also a place appropriate to bargain at the local market and sometimes just listening to some of the bantering made it fun to be here with her.  It’s sort of cool tagging along someone so well known, respected and loved.

Although we lived in town  she still knew her fresh vegetables seeing as she had several gardens, flora and vegetables and she knew how to choose fresh meat. She would even test fish  by taking a tiny piece raw and taste it to see if it was really fresh; I guess it is no surprise that I learned to eat a tiny portion of fresh extra-lean grown steak raw sprinkled with salt while she was making hamburgers.  You have to remember that in those days we went to the butcher and saw him grind the fresh steak.

farmer’s market
old woman picks at the fish
it glared at her

© Tournesol ’15

meaning of life (haiku)

should I feel remorse
defying its true purpose?
escargot à l’ail

~
please Great Spirit
don’t let me return as a snail
the walk will kill me

© Tournesol’15

CP Little Creatures series – Mud Snails

Home sweet home (haibun)

Sogi’s haiku that our host so beautifully translated gives me such a beautiful image of hope.

abandoned house
the garden taken over –
butterfly home   © Iio Sogi (Tr. Chèvrefeuille)

I get expectant feelings as  I imagine butterflies,insects, stray cats, rodents and birds making a home wherever they can especially during our cold winter months. Even a homeless person who may find a “good spot” shielded from bitter cold winds and rain appreciates  our view of “nothing” as “home”.

Verger d’Emilie
winter’s hostage
free rent

~

abandoned kiosk
finch and sparrows
moving in

~
moving in
cats and mice playing nice
catch me if you can

~
padlocked fruit stand,
awning offers shelter,
beggar’s castle

© Tournesol ’15

Carpe Diem Sogi’s Butterfly Home

first full moon of the year (haiga)

cold winter night
hidden by the old elm tree
first grown-up kiss

~

hidden by the elm
old woman blind to carnal sins
full moon beams

© Tournesol `15

 

thriving souls (haibun)

This prompt made me think of the tall golden grass in the autumn. I wonder if I could have collected some and braided it, somewhat like our autumn decorations at Thanksgiving with dried corn cobs and long braided husks.

© Clr '15
© Clr ’15

Walking in the freezing yesterday, I noticed the long golden grass had frozen as if promises for Spring were frozen in time during the cold winter months. Perhaps winter is a time to percolate ideas and spring is to put some of these into action and fruition.

As we begin a new year, the Japanese culture adorns their front doors with sacred rope to ward off evil spirits…somewhat like protecting the hibernation of treasured thoughts, hopes and prayers.

© Tumblr Shimekazari

braided rice straw
hangs at the entrance
barring evil spirits

hangs at the entrance
open to abundance
budding souls

barring evil spirits
faith in the new year
holding treasures

© Tournesol ’15

Carpe Diem Sacred Rope

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