Carpe Diem # 110 - Verdant

Image Source

In the verdant meadow

She arrives on fairy wings

Blossoms in her hair

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

See the fairy queen

Clothed in leaves and soft fern fronds

Her eyes flashing green

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Verdant for a while

Learned things at a lawn party

Splendor in the grass.

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

My verdant front yard

Strangely still green in Winter

Now Hides under snow

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Green fields are resting
Under a blanket of snow
To waken in Spring 

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

UPDATE:

But wait - there's more!
I just learned here of the Fibonacci haiku derivative, or "Fib"

So, here is a shot at that form. 

A
Green
Field Grows
Rich and lush
Over the dark soil
Deep layers of organic dirt

Carpe Diem #110

Carpe Diem # 109 - Early Blossom

EARLY BLOSSOM

Image Source

Back when we were twelve
The first girl to have nice curves
Lived across the street

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

I was a shy lad
Mothers of early blossoms
Had nothing to fear

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Those early bloomers
I wonder how they aged - are
They withered flowers

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

 Carpe Diem # 109

Carpe Diem # 108 -- Birdsong

 
Birds rising early
Sing aloud - we have no need
For an alarm clock

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

First robin of Spring
Arrives in January
Too cold for singing

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Cuckoo calls at night
Robin and sparrow take note
Stare hard at their mates

~  ~  ~  ~  ~ 

 Hear the caged bird sing
It's song unlike the free bird's
It sings of freedom

~  ~  ~  ~  ~ 

Carpe Diem # 108

Carpe Diem Special #19 -- Shiki's Evening Sun

On my street, looking east at sunset, Oct 28, 2012

Clouds float over us
The setting sun sneaks beneath
Lighting their bottoms

On my street, looking west at sunset, Oct 28, 2012

 The Last light lingers
Clouds blush at the setting sun
Soon we will see stars

My lovely wife took the most awesome sunset picture EVER
Straights of Mackinaw, July 28, 2012


 Ship flees quickly east
Before the setting sun can
Set the sea on fire

~  ~  ~  ~  ~ 

 As the sun sets west
Even the tiny sand mice
Cast long dark shadows

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Carpe Diem Special #19

Carpe Diem # 107 -- Children

CHILDREN

Our Grandchildren, taken 4/13/12

My lovely wife and I have a blended family.  Her two sons and my son and daughter have blessed us with the eleven grandchildren you can see in the picture.  We've been taking kids-on-the-couch pictures since there were only three of them, over a decade ago.  Now they spill off on all sides.

On the couch, from the left: Rebekka, Ryan, Nate, Abby, Josh, Amanda, Danny and Alexa.  On the floor: Samantha, Emily and Lauren.

We have eleven
Beautiful, smart talented
Grandchildren to share

~  ~  ~  ~ ~

Dancers and athletes
Thespians and musicians
They fill us with pride

~  ~  ~  ~ ~

 
I am thankful for
Our children - and that they brought
Us these grandchildren

 ~  ~  ~  ~ ~

Carpe Diem # 107

Carpe Diem # 106 -- Wolf Moon

WOLF MOON

Image found here

For tonight's prompt, Kristjaan tells us this about the wolf:

The Wolf is regarded as one of the most powerful spirit guides of all, and it's presence is a message of guidance. If the Wolf spirit has appeared to you, seek wisdom from those you respect and pause to learn about the subject that faces you. Once the Wolf spirit equips you with knowledge you may take action with confidence.

In January
Stark Moonbeams shine on the wolves
Winter has now come*

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Full moon in winter
First bright orb of the new year
Frost forms on wolf fur

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Powerful spirit
Guide me  ~  Teach me  ~  Light my path
Bring me your wisdom

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

If you fear the wolf
Do not enter his domain
Under the moonlight

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

The grey light beckons
Siren to Wulfsarkergang
I howl at the moon

 ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

* Couldn't resist a Game of Thrones Reference

Carpe Diem #106

Six Word Saturday

My

Wife's Mother:

Only a Memory

She

Passed away

Last Sunday Morning

Rita

May you

Rest in Peace

Carpe Diem #105 -- EYES

EYES

Image Source

When I look at you

I see the love that we share

When you look at me

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Eyes can be windows

Peering into someone's soul

They can be mirrors

~  ~

Eyes can be weapons

Piercing like spears; or caress

With a velvet touch

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Eyes can be faucets

Giving release to sorrow

Water for the dead

~  ~

Great grandmother's eyes

They once sparkled with her love

Now closed forever

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Carpe Diem #105

Carpe Diem #103 - Heath

I spent a frustrating half hour vainly searching for information on North American heathlands, and have tentatively concluded that there aren't any.  So this offering is a bit generic.  Still, I'm rather pleased with it.

South Stack Cliffs RSPB Nature Reserve – Anglesey, North Wales

 Image source

Sunrise warms the heath

Bees stir in gorse and heather

A wild bird calls out

From the image link I learned that among the birds you might hear calling out from the heath at South Stack Cliffs are peregrin falcons and chough, an increasingly rare member of the crow family.

Carpe Diem #103

Sensational Haiku Wednesday + 3WW CCCXIII

Only one day late.

The SHW theme is a traditional nature themed haiku.

Though the sun shines bright
The cold is biting today
Winter has arrived

It's unusal to see a haiku in upside down pyramid geometry.  Somehow, that shape pleases me.

And for 3WW

Icy and polite

Old lovers meet in Winter

And brag in silence

~  ~

In January

It is not polite to brag

Of icy feelings

3WW CCCXIII

Carpe Diem #100 - Angels

My wife's mother passed away early this morning after several months in a nursing home.  We were deeply impressed with the love and care shown by the staff there.  Today is also her youngest great grandchild's 5th birthday.  I got the idea for the 2nd haiku from the lady at the funeral home.

I'm not a religious person, but I do find ANGELS to be an appropriate subject for today

At the end of life

The angels have all come here

To carry her home

~  ~  ~  ~ ~

On a boy's birthday

The plan is that he has his

Own special angel

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Nurses, care givers

Helping people through life's end

God's angels on earth

Carpe Diem #100

Carpe Diem # 99 -- Love Story

My haiku relates not to the movie, but to my own life.

Two lovers parted

Years later found each other

Old love new again

A different, longer poem I wrote about it ended this way


What great surprise to find I loved you still
And greater still that you loved me


Yesterday was our 22nd anniversary.
It's been the best third of my life.

Now you know.

Carpe Diem #99

Carpe Diem Special # 17 Cold Winter Blast

An Alberta Clipper is a winter storm that originates in the region of Alberta, Canada and travels like a fast moving 19th century clipper ship into the great lakes region.

COLD WINTER BLAST

Alberta clipper
Sailing in a fleet of clouds
Temperature falls

~  ~  ~  ~  ~
 
Temperature falls
My breath makes a stormy cloud
On a long walk home

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

On a long walk home
Cold winds redden my ear lobes
A warm fire awaits

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

 
A warm fire awaits
I rush through the biting wind
Alberta clipper

~  ~  ~  ~  ~
:
~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Snowy innocence
Whiter than the winter's clouds
Scoured clean by the wind

Carpe Diem Special #17

Three Word Wednesday

3WW  CCCXII

DISMAL
LUSCIOUS
WAFFLE

Feeling if not dismal then at least minimalist, I do not waffle in offering you these luscious, though brief thoughts.  [Wow, was that lame!]

To waffle at the
sight of a luscious waffle
Is indeed dismal

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Maple? Blueberry?
Dismal syrup waffling
Luscious treat grows cold

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Pancake or waffle
I waffle. They're luscious.  I
Get dismal oatmeal

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

She is so luscious
So then why does he waffle
E. D. is dismal

 

Five Sentence Fiction - Inspire

I'm very late to this one.  Well, sometimes life aint easy.  But there are still over 13 hours left - so  .  .  .

INSPIRE

When she woke from the dream, Marci felt drawn to her easel.

Usually she would carefully strategize and then sketch out a drawing; this time the paints almost seemed to spontaneously fly to the canvas, as if the brush were guiding her hand.

Eventually, it dawned on her that he hadn't yet had breakfast, so she set the brush down and stepped back for a moment.

Yes - the likeness was almost perfect; she had captured the dreamy beauty of that long oval face, though her eyes weren't quite the exact shade of green.

Now - to get the angle just right on her wing  .  .  .

~  ~  ~  ~  ~ 

Reduced to a haiku

Image from a dream
Brought to life on a canvas
With green eyes and wings 

~  ~  ~  ~  ~ 

Marci's Thread

L. A. Times Crossword Puzzle Blogging

 Wednesday, January 16, 2013 Jean O'Conor

Theme: All in a year's work or As ye sow, so shall ye reap.  Four common two-word phrases not specifically with agriculture in common usage, the first word of which is a verb in context, and figuratively an agricultural reference.  In its literal sense, each of these agri-words can be used as either a noun or a verb.  Collectively, they represent phases of the growing season, and a portion of a farmer's labor throughout the year.

 17 A. Deal with, as a stack of dull paperwork : PLOW THROUGH  Chug, plug and grind until the task is done.  Then it's Miller time, I suppose.  A plow is an implement for breaking up the soil in preparation for what follows.  As a verb, to plow means to use a plow for its intended purpose.

 24. Investor's initial support : SEED CAPITAL  The initial funding used to get a new business going.  A seed is a flowering plant's unit of reproduction, or, more formally, "a ripened plant ovule containing an embryo."  As a verb, it means to sow the land by spreading seeds.

 33. Create an incriminating trail : PLANT EVIDENCE  Place [false?] evidence in a place where it is likely to be found.  A plant, according to the Free Dictionary, is "Any of various photosynthetic, eukaryotic, multicellular organisms of the kingdom Plantae characteristically producing embryos, containing chloroplasts, having cellulose cell walls, and lacking the power of locomotion."  Evidently, whoever wrote this definition knows nothing about Triffids.  As a verb, "plant" means to stick on of these organisms in the ground in hopes that  it will grow.

 55. Autumn lunar phenomenon : HARVEST MOON.  This is the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox.  These nights it might have romantic implications, but in the not so distant past, farmers took advantage of this bright moon to work long hours bringing in their crops.  The product of this labor is the HARVEST, and as a verb describes this action.

Hi gang, JazzBumpa driving the combine today.  Let's see what Jean's fertile mind has sprouted for us today.

Carpe Diem #97 -- Crocus

CROCUS

Crocuses in my yard - March 2009

I wrote the first two haiku in 2009 when I first posted this picture.  

~  ~  ~

My wife's mother is now near the end of her life -

Which has me thinking about mortality

One purple crocus

Aloof from all his cousins.

We blame the squirrels.

 

 ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

 

In late afternoon

Long shadows linger over

Spring's first crocuses

 

 ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

 

A fragile flower

Impatient in early Spring

Lives fast and dies young

 

 ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

 

Early Spring bloomer

 First bright flower to emerge

Alas - then it croaks

 

 ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

 

Can the crocus be

A metaphor for humans

Quickly loved then gone

 

Carpe Diem #97

Carpe Diem #96 -- Embers

EMBERS

Picture from Wikipedia Commons

Embers still glowing

In the chill of midwinter

Ashes are warm snow

~  ~  ~

A fire's last remnant

Glowing in the still darkness

When night has fallen

~  ~  ~

The faint glow smolders

If fire leaves a memory

Those thoughts are embers

~  ~  ~

The fire still endures

And the warm glow yet remains

We are old lovers

 ~  ~  ~

Carpe Diem #96

Carpe diem #95 -- Blues

BLUES

 Down in the delta
Them black folk singin' the blues
Through the cotton fields

 /  ~  /

Through the cotton fields
Work songs born in Africa
To Chicago bars

 /  ~  /

To Chicago bars
From Kansas City brothels
Workin' folks' music
 

 /  ~  /

Workin' folks' music
From the depths of the black soul
Wails of deep blue pain

 /  ~  /

Wails of deep blue pain
People's lives owned by masters
Cry out for freedom

 /  ~  /

Cry out for freedom
Sing a song of slavery
Blue in many shades
 /  ~  /

Blue in many shades

 Sky, water, black skin bruises
Down in the delta

CARPE DIEM # 95

Six Word Saturday

Another 
Saturday of 
Too much driving


 

"Wine Rack" Limerick

I was unaware of this amazing invention.

If you click the link, also click the "larger picture" button when you get there, so you can see in a series of 4 photos exactly how it works.

Of course, Mad Cane doesn't let things like this slip by unnoticed.




My thought:

I have to agree it's the best
Device to enhance someone's chest
Made just for sipping
(also known as nipping)
If you've liquid assets to invest

Carpe Diem #94 - Jazz

JAZZ

That's ME on the trombone solo

JAZZ

 Cool swinging rhythms

A saxophone wailing high

Trombones supporting

~ | ~

Trombones supporting

Trumpet riffs in a cascade

Wild man thumps the bass

~ | ~

Wild man thumps the bass

Wide eyed kid pounds the keyboard

The drummer hangs loose

~ | ~

The drummer hangs loose

In a dim-lit smokey bar

Toking between sets

~ | ~

Toking between sets

Getting ready to soar high

On cool swinging jazz

~ | ~

On cool swinging jazz

In a haiku that holds my name

Feel syncopation

~ | ~

Feel syncopation

An old trombonist speaks out

Cool swinging rhythms

 ~ | ~

Carpe Diem #94

Carpe Diem #93 -- Cave

 Photo Source

 CAVE

What would Sigmund say
About spelunking all night
In my vivid dreams

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Let's go spelunking
There in the deepest dark cave
We'll find adventure

Picture Source

A home for hobbits
Under the ground - or is it
A home for Gollum

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

A forlorn halfling
Riddles for a gold ring with
A poor doomed creature

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Home to trolls and worse
Is this hole in the ground a
Storehouse of treasure

Carpe Diem #93

VisDare 2

VisDare 2:  Resolute

Picture Source

Leon's Great Adventure

[119 words]

Leon was one spaced-out kid.

I never realized how much until he actually did it.

He told me this was a trick he'd been working on, but I never believed him.  You wouldn't 've either.  You know that.

"By the big ol' pine tree, down at the corner," he told me, "That's the spot.  That's where it's gonna happen."

Ever the showman, he popped up on one wheel, slowed to a coast [I could never keep my balance like he did] and as he drifted past the tree, he followed his front wheel out of our space into some strange other place where I couldn't follow.

I hope it's better for him there. 

It was a one way trip.

Sensational Haiku Wednesday

 Near Black Lake - Summer 2011

PHOTOGRAPH

On the path of life

You need the right companion

Can you picture that

~  ~

Two kids wandering

Never quite out of the woods

We're much older now

~  ~

Can a mere picture

Capture the drama of our

Once and future love

Sensational Haiku Wednesday is Powered by Jenn

Three Word Wednesday CCCXI

 Three words for TWW CCCXI:

FOCUSED
PAIR
VACANT

A Vignette [or is 

It a morality play?]

Told in Haiku Form

Into the vacant

House crept the pair so focused

On the physical

~  ~

Yes she drank too much

He was focused on her pair

Her eyes were vacant

 ~  ~

Focused on the wrong
Target this vacant pair missed
A chance to find - what

~  ~

A pair of strangers

Now they pass focused on the

Distant horizon

~  ~

Why have I focused

On this pair of vacant souls

What is their message

Carpe Diem #91 - Seahawk

SEAHAWK

PICTURE SOURCE

Seahawks soar above
The water's churning surface
Fish soar under waves

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Fly closer to me
Pandion haliaetus
Bring me your message

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Bring me your message
Lend your wings to my spirit
Noble predator

Carpe Diem # 91

A Totally Different View

Maybe you non-trombonists out there won't think this is as cool as I do.  But it's COOL.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Carpe Diem #90 - Tulips

Picture from Wikipedia

 TULIPS

Delicate blossoms
Beautiful for a few days
'Till ruined by rain

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

If I share tulips
When bulbs turn into blossoms
Will you share two lips?

 ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Made for each other
As if it were destiny
Tulips and kissing 

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Petals like kissed lips
Beautiful convexity
Arrayed for delight

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Deep within those lips
An eager wanderer probes
Questing for nectar

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Carpe Diem #90

Shadow Shot Sunday

One of my Christmas presents

New Year Begins

For happy new cheer
A fine peaty single malt
To start off the year

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

SSS II

Carpe Diem #89 - Tomorrow

TOMORROW

When tomorrow comes

One more opportunity

One more step through life

 ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

What is it bringing

Only tomorrow can say

What is it taking

 ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

When it arrives here

Today becomes yesterday

Tomorrow is now

 ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

The first future step

From today to tomorrow

The last of the past

I can't say I'm especially pleased with this set. It all seems trite and obvious.

Carpe Diem  # 89

Some Poetic Lunacy

Visiting the FSF Midnight entries, I found a very ambitious entry by ninotaziz, where she composed a haiku that also fits the form of Collom's lune structure. I had no idea what this was, but she provided a link to Thursday's dVerse Poets post, where all is explained.

In short, named for the poets who devised them, we have two varieties of lune, English language haiku derived verse forms.
- a 5-3-5 syllabic Kelly lune, and
- a 3-5-3 word Collom lune.

Here a some attempts at both forms.  Kelly lunes are deliberately crescent shaped, while Collum lunes seem to my eye to be gibbous.

Update: Belatedly I see, alas, the link widget expired yesterday.   Oh, well.

                        There are two kinds of
Lunes I see
                         Let us share them both

~  ~

Lune and Lune
They're an oddly mismatched pair
For our sharing

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

                At midnight lunar

Crescent shines
                Light with no color

~  ~ 

The midnight moon
Now waxing gibbous far above
Casts gray light

VisDare #1

This picture strikes me as being pretty much intractable.  I've pondered it for a few days, and this is not only the best I can come up with, it's ALL I can come up with.

And I usher in the new and improved 150 word limit by using a paltry 45.

Lo siento.

Sure, and I've had some bad dates before.

And maybe this isn't even the first time I've been left out on a ledge by one of 'em.

But I never thought I'd ever get stood up by some flighty girl what calls 'erself Mary Poppins!

Carpe Diem Special #15 - Winter Trees

Source

WINTER TREES

Shorn of their raiment
These proud ladies stand naked
Waiting for first Spring

~  ~

Waiting for first Spring
In cold shimmering moonlight
Their long arms reach up

~  ~

Their long arms reach up
Leafless to the Winter sky
Silhouettes on clouds

~  ~

Silhouettes on clouds
Tracery of bare branches
In the gray moonlight

~  ~

In the grey moonlight
Searching limbs reaching skyward
Shorn of their raiment

Carpe Diem Special #15

100 WCGU #71

Somehow, I missed the 12/31 prompt until just now.

.  .  .  as midnight struck  .  .  .

I had already recast this FSF MIDNIGHT story as a haiku, but here is another take using the prompt, coming in at a very economical 13 words.

On midsummer's eve
As midnight struck she went out
To find a fairy

Source

Carpe Diem #87 - Yesterday

Four thoughts on Yesterday

Just one day ago
Before these problems surfaced
A much simpler time

~  ~  ~  ~  ~
 

Then I was alone
Nor was I even searching
Now I am with you

 ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

That road lies behind
Never to be trod again
Now forget the past

 ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

The road we've traveled
We are in between that and
The road yet to be

Carpe Diem # 87

Three Word Wednesday - CCCX

This week's three words:

IDLE
NAGGING
PACE

Here they are in a perverse limerick.


A racy girl's pace was to sidle
Up to a jock lounging idle;
Mock him with nagging face
Till he went to her place
And had fun with a whip and a bridle.


[Sometimes I can't resist horsing around]