~ eight years and 1000 “follows” ~
smoke a kyoka
21 May 2020 16 Comments
frank(ly) i thank ya
not to mess with my tanka
(syllabic rut stuck)
why can’t japanese mora
fit my english euphora?
Frank J. Tassone challenges us to “meet the bar” of tanka/kyoka writing at dVerse poets pub.I had learned strict syllabic writing of these forms so was surprised by Frank’s notes:
“Now, a brief word on tanka/kyoka and syllabic writing. Beginners are often taught that both tanka and kyoka need to be written in no more than 31 syllables, usually broken up into a 5-7-5-7-7 pattern. However, an English syllable is a different linguistic unit from a Japanese mora, and the counts refer to mora, not syllable. If an English-language writer of Japanese forms wants to write accurately, the proper syllable count for a haiku/senryu would be 10-12, and a tanka/kyoka 20-24.”
leaving home
19 May 2020 27 Comments
life portals bear import
more than ports of call
they demand deportment
choose to step through
this door to the other side
as it shuts quietly behind
there’s no going back now
the goodbyes and hellos of
these unmasked emotions
express momentous change
leave outgrown past for
future’s fresh opportunities
every end is new beginning
I stare at empty nest as our fourth son is now married and moved out…and Anmol (HA) hosts dVerse poetics with interesting with “portals” prompt. How fitting!
wedding dress
17 May 2020 1 Comment
in american sentence, quote, scripture
“The clothing you wear in marriage must come from the closet of God’s grace.”
-Pastor John Lee on Colossians 3:12
______________
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved,
clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness and patience.”
photo by lynn
gone to seed
14 May 2020 16 Comments
in haiku, senryu Tags: aging, crown, dignity, seed, white hair
slender, elegant
aged with grace and dignity
wears white hair like crown
photo by lynn
reality check
13 May 2020 6 Comments
in american sentence Tags: fairy tales, happiness, life, reality, time
Time for us to admit that life is not happily ever after.
contemplation
12 May 2020 4 Comments
in haiku, Uncategorized
awaken at night
moon illumines tree branches
teacup half empty
image by Michael Schwartz
a time for lament
12 May 2020 2 Comments
in lament Tags: abortion, bureaucracy, churches, mortality, pandemic, porn
spirits sag sluggish
our attitudes apathetic
people lie dying but we
are numbed by numbers
so we adjust our masks
try to control catastrophe
normalize the abnormal
turn off doom of news
cannot shut out reality
of one’s own mortality
seems life is too short to
realize all our dreams
of apocalyptic nightmare
social events cancel
celebrations zoom in
at least we can distract
ourselves with technology:
mind games of (anti)social
media, victims of porn
big bureaucracy grows
as the economy slows
churches shut down
yet abortion services
considered essential
we truly are sick
seeking solitude
05 May 2020 15 Comments
in quote Tags: alone, creative, God, prayer, rainwater, retreat, silence
I never found a companion that was so companionable as solitude.
-David Henry Thoreau
when being alone
doesn’t seem lonely
but a companionable
inner retreat, making
space for the soul.
find quietude within,
aware of own breath.
listen to music of the
wind and water, hear
time self-expanding
rest hurried mind
de-stress taut body
take time to imagine
core life possibilities,
reconsider priorities.
renewal of creative
in scent of rainwater
dew on emerald leaf;
barefoot in grass, sun
caresses shoulders.
posture of prayer
sitting in silence;
listen for God’s still
small voice speaking
truth to deepest heart.
Bjorn invites us to explore some solitude and then link with dVerse poets…
i did!
04 May 2020 24 Comments
in quadrille Tags: bubble, cell phone, goats, grandma, silly
Lillian invites us to lighten up and get a bit silly at dVerse poets’ pub tonight 🙂
did you ever leave cell phone behind,
family must ring your number to find?
did you ever blow gum bubble in space,
stretch it bigger till it burst in your face?
did you ever play three gruff goats billy,
game with granddaughters giggling silly?
“Grandma” by Ruth
master basho
28 Apr 2020 5 Comments
in haibun, Uncategorized Tags: cherry blossoms, frog, grass, haiku, Japan, master
Frank Tassone invites us to write haibuns on Basho/Shakespeare at dVerse Poets.
Matsuo Basho lived simply and walked lightly on the island of Japan. His tiny home was in the village of Edo. One spring day, Basho felt restless and decided to travel by foot across the country. He went in search of cherry blossoms. For his journey, Basho wore a paper hat, black robe, and woven grass sandals. He carried his ink stone and writing paper wrapped in a cloth.
He followed the winding river, sat in a cool waterfall cave, and visited a thousand-yr.-old twin pine. Eventually, he came to an orchard of blossoming cherry trees! A farmer loaned him a horse to ride through a vast, grassy field. He took baths in hot springs and swam in the sea. He ate whatever he found or was given along the way: vegetables, wild rice, noodles, fish.
In the mountains, Basho joined friends for a full moon party. Drinking tea and rice wine, they composed poems together about the night sky. Basho often stopped in his travels to quietly listen and observe. He watched the fog, heard grasshoppers, touched an iris, and tasted rain. Focusing on the moment made Matsuo a haiku master.
do not bash basho
wikipedia image
named himself “banana tree”
writer of frog pond
Information on Basho’s life taken from a lovely children’s book, Grass Sandals, by Dawnine Spivak with beautiful illustrations by Demi.
personal notes on psalm 121
23 Apr 2020 4 Comments
in scripture
I lift up my eyes to the hills– where does my help come from?
I look up… is there anyone who can help me?
My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
My Creator sees me; He knows, he cares, he will rescue me!
He will not let your foot slip– he who watches over you will not slumber;
God is always awake and watching over my path.
indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
He is on duty 24/7; guarding and watching over his people.
The LORD watches over you– the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
I can take comfort in the shade of his protection; he’s got me!
the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
Natural threats (pandemic) and disasters will not harm me ultimately.
The LORD will keep you from all harm– he will watch over your life;
My life is hidden in God; I belong to him and he keeps me safe.
the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
He will be with us through all our life’s journey into eternity.
garden of the gods – photo by lynn
