Carpe Diem #1297 White Hand of Moses

At this stage of my life I am starting to see my grandchildren emerge as adults.  My parents are both gone, and many people of my generation leave this earth every day.  Thus has it ever been.

Kristjaan shares with us the 4th quatrain from the Rubaiyat - a difficult verse with esoteric imagery.

Now the New Year reviving old Desires,
The thoughtful Soul to Solitude retires,
Where the WHITE HAND OF MOSES on the Bough
Puts out, and Jesus from the Ground suspires.

© Omar Khayyam (Tr. FitzGerald)

See his post for an excellent analysis and explanation.

My inspiration

after the solstice

new life rises from humus
the cycle of life

~~::~~

Carpe Diem #1296 Dawn's Left Hand

Kristjaan gives us this -- [for background, see the link]

Today's episode I have titled "dawn's left hand" and it's extracted from the 2nd quatrain of "The Rubaiyat". Let me first give you the 'original' quatrain in the first translation by Edward FitzGerald:

Dreaming when Dawn's Left Hand was in the Sky
I heard a Voice within the Tavern cry,
"Awake, my Little ones, and fill the Cup
Before Life's Liquor in its Cup be dry."

© Omar Khayyam (Tr. FitzGerald)

In a later translation of "The Rubaiyat" this verse was translated in another way, more accesible for the reader:

Before the phantom of False morning died, 
Methought a Voice within the Tavern cried, 
"When all the Temple is prepared within, 
"Why nods the drowsy Worshiper outside?"

Inspired by this quatrain, a few thoughts:

~:~

left hand of darkness

or perhaps left hand of light

which way shall i turn

~~::~~

tricksy by false dawn

i surged forth to fill her cup

before she cried out

~~::~~

early morning light

creeps through our bedroom window

witness to our joy

~~::~~

wine in the morning

drunk by a sliver of light

now on to fasting

~~::~~

indifferent to light

orb weaver spins her lace web

in empty wine cup

~~::~~

what is the false dawn

to the devout moose and goose

in the dark forest

~~::~~::~~

Carpe Diem #1281 Suzuran (Lilly of the Valley)

Lily of the valley is a classic summer kigo.

Summer Bells

sweetly poisonous

with dangling nodding white bells

a lovely vision

appealing to the senses

wisely do not be seduced

~~::~~

Carpe Diem 1280 - Wheel of Creation

"Haiku is not only the poetry of nature, but it is also a way to find that peace. While strolling through nature we become one with nature, become part of nature (as it was once meant to be) and than we experience the beauty of our Earth. We have to cherish her beauty, Earth is the only source to find peace of mind and heart. Isn't that what we all see as our goal?"

-- Kristjaan  [<-- link]


Perhaps this cartoon is relevant.

you and i

in that tantric moment

we are one

~:~

spiritualism

we are all seekers

in philosophy

~:~

even here on earth

we are made of stardust

one with everything

~:~

even moose and goose

in the darkling forest mist

we breath the same air

~~::~~

Carpe Diem 1279 - Yekaterinberg Aleph

This time we are inspired by an incident in Paolo Coelho's novel, Aleph.

In the Aleph, all things are one, and all of the past, present and future are contained.

in our past lives

were we friends or lovers

now we meet again

~:~

i've always loved you

since the moment i was born

and perhaps before

~:~

our lives intertwined

spanning across space and time

choice or destiny

~:~

now we are old

when we say our last good-bye

know we'll meet again

~~::~~

This reminds me of a sonnet I wrote long ago.


                          THE SUBSTITUTE

There are those whose lives are meant to be entwined,
Lovers thrust together by the force of destiny,
When choice and fate converge, that they may be
Connected at the soul, the heart, the mind.

Within their closed circumference one can find
Two curves in perfect fit -- his yang, her yin,
That in each cycle once again begin
To cluster into love's sweet spiral bind.

But consider -- if in the vast span of infinity
One of them becomes displaced in small degree;
Is born a decade late, perhaps is sent
To the farthest corner of the continent --

The distant echo of an unfelt touch, an unseen face.
Who will be the one who comes to take his place?

~~::~~

Carpe Diem - Time Glass

Kristjaan offers us two inspirations today, a picture and a verse,  along with a time limit to respond.  In the press of other things, I don't participate every time, but today I have a few moments.  So I'll give a thought to each.  Most of my writing has taken a somewhat dark, sad or lonely turn lately.  Who knows why?

the picture

lonely flower

~~~

walking lonely now

after last night’s adventure

losing her flower

~:~

the verse

a little verse

lighted a fire in my heart 

addicted to love

© Chèvrefeuille 

~~~

that fire in my heart

bursting out in flaming words
my love is scorching

~~::~~

Carpe Diem #1275 nakedness

Some naked thoughts for this CD prompt.

here we are naked

remembering mother eve

she was merely nude

~:~

here we are naked

if only we were alone

what would we then do

~:~

here we are naked

homeless starving and thirsty

who comes to help us

~~::~~

Carpe Diem #1274 Ryuko-ji (compassion)

Salient quotes from the prompt --

Today I have chosen one of the temples on Shikoku Island to inspire you with. This temple is named Ryuko-ji and is devoted to the Buddha of Compassion. One of the main ideas of Buddhism.

"Wordlessness" is (in my opinion) one of the pillars of haiku. Look at our haiku. Three lines, approximately 17 syllables and around 15 or 20 words. It's a very short poem, but in that poem the strength is the scenes that are told about without words. So "wordlessness" is part of haiku.

Of course, I come at this obliquely.

does my stone face show

the sympathy that i feel

this i cannot say

~~::~~

Carpe Diem #1273 Into The Sea

Hmmm - scroll down my page and you'll find the last few entries are poems of some sort, all related in some way to a body of water.  Well - it is the source of all life.

Today, a tan renga, the first stanza © Jane Reichhold (1937-2016.)
Second stanza by me, the wonderer.

melting into the sea

the full moon
leaves a candle bright 

illuminated path way

could i walk on that water

~:~

Carpe Diem #1269 -- Reflection

Reflections

~:~

in my mirror

after these many decades

my father's face

~:~

mountain and sky scene

reflected in a calm lake

turn it upside down

~:~

who is the fairest

she asks her oval mirror

it does not answer

~:~

the old mirror
with its lines and distortions
what truth does it tell

Carpe Diem #1263 - Neighborhood of Colors

I took a sharp turn from Italy to Puerto Rico, so beautiful only a few short days ago, now a pile of rubble. Making things worse, out idiot predisent* has shown no enthusiasm for getting them any aid. There may also be corruption involving shipping laws to complicate things further.

{Mitch McConnell's wife is from a family that owns Foremost Shipping. I have not been able to verify the allegation that they have near- exclusive rights for shipping to Puerto Rico due to the Jones Act. John McCain has been trying for years to get the Jones Act - which stipulates that only American made, owned, and crewed ships can deliver freight from one American port to another - lifted. This Act has been harming the Puerto Rican economy for a century, and it looks like big profits for McConnell. I have no doubt that this rat would never lose a minute''s sleep over thousands dying, as long as he could add to his own already enormous wealth. It's also very hard for me to believe that racism is not a factor.}

To help victims of the recent hurricanes in Texas and Florida, the Jones act was temporarily lifted for those states - as has happened several times in the past. Puerto Rico - completely isolated from overland transport - has not been given the same consideration.

There is a desperate need for food, potable water, medications, shelter, fuel for generators. People are dying for want of these basic things. But aid is slow in coming from our great nation. Evidently the people of Hispanic heritage on the island don't rate the same kind of assistance that quickly came to those in Texas and Florida.

Puerto Rico is part of the United States, and Puerto Ricans are U. S. citizens.  Could their skin color be causing our Republican Party leadership to downplay their worth?   Sure looks that way to me.

It only took a few seconds on the Google to discover what I guessed might be the case - that Puerto Rico also had houses of many colors.

Colorful Houses

many house colors

many tints of human skin

grey puerto rico

~:~

*Some time ago one of Trump's attorneys mispelt "president" as "predisent" in a document.  It's good, since "predisent" is a portmanteau of "predator" and "president."  Columnist Charlie Pierce refers to occupant 45 as the president*.  I've combined these ideas and always refer to this genuinely corrupt and horrible man as the predisent*.

Carpe Diem 1262 / Imaginary Garden -- Courtyard Blues

Today's Carpe Diem inspiration is this picture [attribution lost.]  Looks like an anything goes day at The Garden, so I'll share this there as well.

Took a sad, lonely turn with this blue image.

Courtyard Blues

in the blue courtyard

we shared blue margaritas

salty memory

~:~

in the blue courtyard

we met alone at midnight

taste of stolen sweets

~:~

in the blue courtyard
long i sat waiting for you

 you with him loving

~:~

in the blue courtyard

where our tempers flashed red hot

sitting cold and blue

~:~

in the blue courtyard

now i drink the blues alone
you and he are gone

Carpe Diem Weekend Meditation - on the river

This time our challenge is to construct a troiku.

It is based on the haiku by Basho, seen below.

This took a light-hearted turn that surprised me.

I always strive to have proper form: phrase and fragment structure and 1st-3rd line interchangeability.

The last one took some effort, but I think I got there.   Actually, I think it works better 3rd line first.

~:~

on the river

lights float to the horizon

the dead rejoice

© Basho

on the river

children dangle their bare feet

fish nibble on toes

lights float to the horizon

as children stare in awe

a phalanx of fireflies

the dead rejoice
on the bank of the river

 lively children frolic

~:~

Carpe Diem #1259 Creating Beauty

Here I am, back at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai after another long and inexplicable hiatus.

Can I create some beauty?   You be the judge.

ancient myth of god

from the wet clay of the earth

creating adam

~:~

if i place my life

in the mold of your strong hands

how will you form me

~:~

rotund symmetry

in the spinning universe

a cluster of stars

~:~

That last one might be a haiku.

The others seem more like senryu.

Namaste.

JzB

Care Diem #936

The challenge today is to write a haiku using paradox.  This strikes me as being a very zen exercise.

The first one is built around something my father once said about a grumpy man - hence, a senryu.

The second is a nature snapshot - more legitimately a haiku, I think.

It's late, I'm tired.  This is all I've got.

that old curmudgeon 

the only time he’s happy

is when he is sad

~~::~~

a blazing sunset

turning waves red and orange

the sea is on fire

~~:::~~:::~~

C D H U

Carpe Diem Tokubetsudesu #72 Use that quote

Hello haijin and long lost friends.  Once again I return return to Carpe Diem Haiku Kai.

For this week's episode of Tokubetsudesu themed "Use That Quote" I have a nice quote for you by the Dalai Lama. A real nice quote which gives you a lot of space to create haiku (or tanka).

Here is the quote by the 14th Dalai Lama for your inspiration:

[...] "The purpose of our lives is to be happy". [...]  Dalai Lama

It's a nice quote as you can see and it really gives you freedom to create / compose an all new haiku, tanka or other Japanese poetry form.

Since they speak of the human condition, I suppose the first two entries are senryu rather than haiku.

living the moment

happiness and a full life

found in simple things

~~::~~

the way of love

to find your own happiness

make someone happy

~~::~~

springtime vibrations

the hum of a fly-struck web

happy orb weaver

~~::~~::~~

Carpe Diem Tokubetsudesu #72 Use that quote

Carpe Diem Modern Times Haiku #3 Jerry Kilbride (1930-2005)

Of the four Jerry Kilbride examples, the potato one seems abstract and mysterious.  In the other three there is a deeply touching moment with a unique person - so something very concrete.   This appeals to me.

This has been a difficult summer.  Early in June my mother had a stroke.  She was fairly stable for a few days, then went rapidly down hill.  She spent her last few days at Hospice of Northwest Ohio, a beautiful location, where she received quality care.  Sadly, she was not aware in any obvious way of us or her surroundings.

That period was physically and mentally exhausting.  I really haven't fully recovered.  So I'm in the right frame of mind to be inspired by Jerry Kilbride.

mostly she just slept

as we sat by her bedside

a stroke of bad luck

and a flashback to childhood

a porcelain cup

filled with tea and memories

graham crackers with mom

Carpe Diem Utabukuro #5 Origami frog

"The goal of CD's Utabukuro is not difficult, because I just ask you to share a haiku or tanka which you admire. That haiku or tanka can be one of a classical or non-classical haiku poet or one by yourself. You can choose what ever you like, but it has to be a haiku or tanka. Maybe the haiku brings you sweet (or sad) memories or you just like it. Explain why you have chosen that haiku or tanka to share here "in" CDHK's Utabukuro, poem bag, and ... that is the second task for this feature, write/compose an all new haiku inspired on the one you have chosen."

I chose one that I wrote earlier this spring.

in the green meadow

amid the buds and insects

lurking orb weaver

This one has phrase and fragment structure, first-third line interchangeability and a deeper, though rather dark, meaning.  Not sure of there is an official kigo here, but the image to me is very Spring-like.  I can't stand spiders in the real world, but have great affection for them in my haiku.

inspired haiku

in the green meadow

a fat toad sits pondering

the taste of spider

My affection for amphibians is boundless.   On its own, this one seems quite classical to me.  In the context of its inspiration, though, there is more than a hint of irony.  Maybe that makes it a senryu.   I can live with that.

What has any of this to do with an origami frog?  To answer that, see the link in the first line above.

green origami

only a paper frog

cob needn't worry

UPDATE:    Just found this wonderful example by Mystic

in a sea of weeds

a lone sunflower fishes

for its lost shadow

My response

for one dark moment

where have all the shadows gone

a cloud passes by

Carpe Diem Tokubetsudesu #52 full circle challenge "heaven"

Tokubetsudesu #52 

I will give you twelve (12) words (for every ''hour'') one word. The goal is to write haiku using the words as given in the clock wise way.

1. Heaven

2. Clouds

3. Palm tree

4. Fountain

5. Goddess

6. Desert

7. Jazz cafe

8. Duke Ellington

9. Summer night

10. Honeysuckle

11. Ancient road

12. Hill

If you follow the words clock wise than you can compose four new haiku. This new feature is just for fun and I hope you will as much enjoy it as I did have fun and joy to create it.

musical heaven

syncopated clouds dance with

the swaying palm tree

in the fountain mist

the image of a goddess

one desert mirage

heaven’s jazz cafe

count basie duke ellington

swing the summer night

honeysuckle rose

song played on the ancient road

just beyond the hill

Carpe Diem #771 natsu no nami (summer waves)

A mysterious prompt.

Are the waves of summer different from other seasons? Maybe ... 

mysterious waves

rippling upon the surface

what lies underneath

~~::~~

hiding under waves

silver scales in the ripples

catching water bugs