Exodus

Carpe Diem #615 Exodus

whirlwind of leaves

scurry down the street

in front of the snow

Paradise

Carpe Diem # 614 Paradise

waking 

entwined in your arms

paradise

waves break

over pristine sands

paradise found

Georgia's "a dream in a dream"

Carpe Diem Tan Renga Challenge #61, Georgia's "a dream in a dream"

Georgia of Bastet and Sekhmet's Library  wrote this lovely haiku for a  response on the GW-post on Poe.  

a dream in a dream

sand slipping through old fingers

autumn leaves turn red                            © Georgia

my head bowed in sorrow
as a new wave of tears break

a dream in a dream

sand slipping through old fingers

autumn leaves turn red                          © Georgia

your hand held tightly in mine
we walk into the sunset

Whirligig

Carpe Diem Little Critters # 13 Whirligig

shizumareba nagaruru ashi ya mizusumashi

the whirligig;

when it stops skating,

the legs float away

© Taigi

water tension

breaks as I try to catch

the whirligig

~

Whirligig skating

under the shadow

of a dragonfly

Tomas Tranströmer #5

Carpe Diem Special #119, Tomas Tranströmer's 5th "a wild boar plays the organ"

then the leaves whispered:

a wild boar plays the organ.

and the bells all rang

© Tomas Tranströmer

My Attempts:

we listen and watch

the dragon hiss and spit flames

old potbelly stove

~

cows circle around

gossiping under the oak 

the crow listens in

Solace

Carpe Diem # 613 Solace

This prompt for solace hits a delicate note today.  Today is the funeral of a dear friend and yesterday the passing of my husband’s aunt Mabel.  I think how can I be a source of comfort for my friends and family.  My tongue is not elegant, nor coated with wisdom.  My part will be in hand holding and hugs, then serving and cleaning up the funeral meal to the hundred people expected.  Later in the day, I will visit with in-laws.  My comfort will come from and be shared in the exchange of quiet memories of a beautiful woman.  I find solace in the last visit she had with the brother she raised since he was two.  He suffers from Alzheimer's.  I wondered if he even understood she was there. After she left, while I was with him, movement in the hallway made him call out her name. It brought me great comfort to realize the strength of love’s bond. 

tears and laughter

in memories shared

our solace

_

autumn’s splendor

whisked gentle away

warm embrace

painted memories shared

over steaming cups of tea

The Cold Within the Sound

Carpe Diem Ghost Writer # 35 Otagaki Rengetsu

This first one I wrote twice, one with the 31 syllables and one without.  Not sure which version I like better.  

winter snow

blankets the earth

deep silence falls

long shadows reaching

as cold creeps under skin

heavy winter snow

blankets the dormant earth

deep silence engulfs

long shadows stretch across lawn

as cold creeps under my coat

~

tree branches groan

under the weight

of snow and ice

inside we huddle by candle light

and shadows feed the fire

~

frozen droplets spit

crackling on the window pane

winter sounds chilling

I snuggle against your back

my cold hands disturb your sleep

Lantern

Carpe Diem # 612: Lantern

I stumble

down the garden path

as last lantern flickers out

~

during the storm

lantern casts shadows

upon the walls

demons evoked

as trees creak from ice

Rainbows

Carpe Diem time glass # 11 Rainbow

Looking up information and folklore about the rainbow,  I found many diverse stories.  The most familiar in the US are probably that of God's promise not to destroy the world in flood and that of the Irish pot of gold at the rainbow's end.  Many see the rainbow as good and some as a bad omen. Amazonians shut their mouths to keep out disease,  ancient arabians thought it was a tapestry woven by the south wind.  Bulgarian legends feel if you walk below the rainbow you will change gender, at least in your way of thinking.   The haiku are not as strong as I would have liked but they should share a little rainbow lore.

Chinese folktale of Hsienpo and Yingt’ai: 

star crossed lovers

await rainbows appearance

to be together

Buddhist: 

highest accomplishment

conscious and desire extinguished

rainbow body

Navajo:

Navajo brave

rides the multicolored serpent

receiving guidance

Nicaragua:

parents hide children

fear they may look or point

rainbow curse

Karen’s of Burma:

painted dragon

devours children

the rainbow

Celtic:

love making

under the rainbow

fertility assured

Josephine Wall

Greek goddess Iris:

Iris on golden wings

leads the dead

to Elysian fields

Ma

Om Mani Padme Hum

The prompt this week at Haiku Shuukan is 'Ma'. 'Ma' purifies jealousy and need for entertainment (realm of the jealous gods)

jealous gods

light the night sky

with fire and imagination

~

He boasts

wearing her beauty

as a badge of honor

one admiring glance

his heart burns with jealousy

~

mirror broken

in a fit of jealousy

passion dies

~

time and temper

cool your heels

balance restored

Sylph: Spirit of the Wind

Carpe Diem #611, Sylph, Spirit of the Wind

the willow weeps now

branches singing sad sweet songs

strange emotions stir

~

wind whispered secrets

shadows and lights dancing

gathering of clouds

~

across the moors

the wind moans

strange secrets

~

hidden mysteries 

in mountain peaks

revealed in snow

Transformation

Carpe Diem #610, Transformation (2nd Vision Quest, 3rd day)

long wait over

fragile wings unfold 

taking flight

~

fresh snow

upon the compost heap

garden transformed

~

pearly dew drops

upon the spider’s trap

web transformed

~

mountain journey

slow trek to the summit

beauty on the way

Ni

Carpe Diem Haiku Shuukan  mantra study "Om Mani Padme Hum" and this week we have arrived at the third sound of this mantra "NI" which purifies passion and desire (human realm).

Moonlight bathes
the naked lovers
in the vestibule

~

on the church stoop
child suckles mother’s breast
nuns blush

Om purifies bliss and pride (realm of the gods); Ma purifies jealousy and need for entertainment (realm of the jealous gods); Ni purifies passion and desire (human realm); Pad purifies ignorance and prejudice (animal realm); Me purifies greed and possessiveness (realm of the hungry ghosts); Hum purifies aggression and hatred (hell realm).

"in time with the moon"

Carpe Diem Special #118, Tomas Tranströmer's fourth "in time with the moon" (Vision Quest day 2)

and the night streams in

from east to west, traveling

in time with the moon

© Tomas Tranströmer

in it’s fullness

the moon spills it’s light

into the dawn

~

as the moon fades

morning light on the ocean

glistening with hope

~

as day breaks

tide pools overflow

at my feet

Ransetsu

Sparkling Stars # 13 Ransetsu

the childless woman,

how tender she is

to the dolls!                           © Ransetsu (Tr. Blyth)

challenge goals:

5-7-5 syllables

+ a seasonword (kigo)

+ a cuttingword (kireji, in western mostly interpunction)

+ a moment as short as the sound of a pebble thrown in water

+ interchangable first and third line

+ a deeper meaning 

ultrasound:

ten tiny fingers
reaching out toward the heaven
profusion of tears

~

cats, cats, and more cats
place setting for each feline
childless couple

-

autumn leaves crumble
glorious splendor over
Perseus shines bright

(for TJ)

Tan Renga Challenge - Yozakura

Carpe Diem Tan Renga Challenge # 60
My first poem for the loss of my dear friend TJ, yesterday.  The other two to lighten my mood.

bright autumn moon

bare branches moving like arms -

the first snow                                       © Yozakura

tears frozen on my cheeks
among the flurries

bright autumn moon

bare branches moving like arms -

the first snow                                      © Yozakura

raccoon tracks on porch
and missing suet feeder

bright autumn moon

bare branches moving like arms -

the first snow                                    © Yozakura

lands with sudden plop
upon my head

Grief

autumn splendor
blown away

dusk falls

Escape

Cape Diem #609 Escape

frosty morning

composing haiku

in a warm bath

Dusk

Carpe Diem #608 Dusk

painted skies

masked by hustle of city

heading home

~

Wispy kings and queens
silhouette an amber sky
as I walk home 

_

in the twilight
elm leaves glow
clouds blush

_

as the last leaves
sail gracefully across the sky
the pine waves goodbye

_

Amidst the shadows
winged dreams take flight

_

in the fading light
elm leaves quiver
squirrel chides me

Kanshicho

Carpe Diem: Ghost Writter 34  

Chèvrefeuille" definition of Kanshicho

Kan -> means: perception, expression

Shi -> means extravagance, pride, poetry

Cho -> means frivolity, number, butterfly

Kanshi -> means Chinese poetry

As I place those meanings together than Kanshicho means:

A poem in the Chinese way that expresses the extravagance and pride of the poet with the frivolity of the flight of a butterfly. And than Kanshicho starts to come to life. It's an expression of something which is seen by the poet, a moment as short as the sound of a pebble thrown in to water, in which he/she sees the extravagant beauty  and pride of nature. That extravagance beauty is caught in a three lined verse with the frivolity, (in my opinion frivolity means "not strings attached, free") of the flight of a butterfly.

My attempts:

early morning

high above the trees 

crescent moon shines

I got stuck on the word pride and these thoughts came: 

new baby

everyone oohs and aahs

ours - most beautiful

haiku

retweeted

swelling with pride

Roadside Beggar

Carpe Diem #607 : Roadside Beggar

looking at the sun

for a silver coin -

roadside beggar

© Nana Fredua-Agyeman

war veteran

diminished to begging

demands eye contact

~

fragile old lady

pushing cart in parking lot

Sunday morning

No stone to Set - Guardian Angel

Carpe Diem #606 - Guardian Angel

Warning - Haibun is sad so if you want skip to the haiku.  It is a rewriting of something from years ago.

NO STONE TO SET

Aimlessly wandering the world a blur a mother's grief unrelenting.  I find myself in an old cemetery
searching for a grave I couldn't bear to face in 20 years. Yet, I come having no other place.  He was in the Catholic section, wherever that was.  I run my hands over cold marble, tracing my finger in the carved letters.  Finally in a back corner a statue of the virgin mother, the grass overgrown.  I search, search for a lamb.  I discover a small stone half covered; a tiny etched lamb.  Disappointed I pull a handful of grass "See I will not for get you I will hold you in the palm of my hand" plays over and over in my head.  I carefully tend the marker.  His was not the courage of the battlefield, but enemies fought within.  His bravery was of needles and bone marrow transplants.  The courage to smile through it all always thinking of others.  I could never be as brave as my brother.  Why did I end up here?  Time passing without reason.  I talk about my sons, changing denominations, rambling on...

At the end of my prattle I ask him to watch over my little one lost with no grave, no name. I hear his laughter echoing a sense of peace fills the air.  All fades I awaken, the morning light illuminating my room and I am bathed in some sense of contentment and sanity.

on the edge of dreams

guardian angels play

leaving footprints

hearts of sorrow
touched briefly
by angel wings

laughter
guardian angel’s
sweet kiss

Ligo Haibun Challenge "Guitar & Mountain"

Ligo Haibun Challenge "Guitar & Mountain"

It’s November again, another anniversary passing. 

unannounced flowers

left on the table

for me

Peace, Love, and Kill Western

I think back to the mountain valley where we meet.   Rival supporters for college football.  One dance with you sealed my fate.   You played your guitar and slid across the floor on your knees.  I tried to fix you up with my best friend who went to the same school as you.  She wasn’t interested in the least.  I was head over heels about you, but had a boyfriend.  

We dated for awhile.  I was too immature for a serious relationship, yet our friendship lingered.   Through all my broken relationships there was always you, your guitar and rock concerts.

mountains and valleys

strangers, music and guitars

and always you

Your proposal was bitter sweet. You came early in the evening and played with the boys.  You returned later with your guitar.  I was wrapped in blankets to keep warm and you kept singing love songs.  Finally feigning a headache, I went to the car in search of Tylenol.  I sat there and a mountain of tears flowed. We’d been dating about five years and had talk about marriage. School was beginning and with our teaching schedules, I knew we would not mention it again until summer.  I dried my tears and returned inside.  You were packing your guitar.  How my heart broke.  Standing in the door way you said, “How would you like to attend a wedding?” My answer a flippant “Well that depends on who’s wedding.”  I honestly did not know this was a proposal.

Since then we’ve climbed many of life's mountains together. And sometimes you still pick up your guitar and sing me love songs.

warm autumn

the mountain's song

still plays

"Romancing the haiku"

Carpe Diem Special #117, Tomas Tranströmer's 3rd "a mother of stone"

morning light

filters through window bars

boy’s cheek caressed

Tan Renga Challenge "mystic purple flames"

Carpe Diem Tan Renga Challenge #59, Panchali's "mystic purple flames"

mystic purple flames

arise from the spirit’s stalks

chill my autumn heart                      (© Panchali)

embers of sunlight
warm the sky

mystic purple flames

arise from the spirit’s stalks

chill my autumn heart                      (© Panchali)

fire burns in my throat
as I suck in the cold air

Hantu-Pisang

Carpe-Diem-605-Hantu-Pisang
Todays prompt can be read about it Carpe Diem.  My attempt has the hantu, but not the pisang.

even in the moon
your faces haunts me

the wind, your laughter

~

in the forest 

light shadows brush my arm

mist lingers

~

shadows dart
in the forest fog
my heart skips

~

moonlight walk

leaf shadows and fairy lore

make me shiver

Juggling

Carpe Diem # 604 Juggling
Our prompt was a poem by Richard Wilbur called the juggler.  I struggled with this prompt.  I finally related it to everyday life.

tripping

bag of groceries

juggled

Snails Haiga

Carpe Diem Little Creatures #12 Snails

two snails join

slugs at the beer party

too drunk to crawl home

a rout of snails

the wild ducks will feast

this morning

wild Switchgrass

adorned with snails

mimics fern fronds

on the highway

between the yellow lines

a snail creeps

 

on the forsythia bush

among the yellow flowers

a snail blossoms

photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/paperpariah/3837807802/">Adam Foster | Codefor</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">cc</a>

photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mg02/1631317987/">sokole oko</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">cc</a>

photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/waffles10/9051439595/">Harry Thomas Photography</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">cc</a>

Mount Fuji

Carpe Diem # 603  Mount Fuji

A few poems for Mount Fuji and then a few for the mountains were I live.

sun kissed mountain

radiates a golden glow

awakening joy

~

mist lingers idly

water washing the mountain

softly morning dawns

plowed fields

at the foot of Mount Fuji

yielding rice

Mount fuji

a stable fixture in life

for Kashiwabara boatmen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

against the blue sky

the black mountains

call me home

~

red buds in spring

turn the grey mountains

purple