Haiku: Return Of The Cold...

"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade." Charles Dicken

Haiku: Return Of The Cold...

 Huddled by the lake
Ice, like shards of glass, splinters...
Cold returns to  play

 
Today, the word is Return Of The Cold

What is Carpe Diem?  Blog Owner, Kristjaan Panneman,  describes it as:  "a weblog on haiku. It's a new daily haiku meme where you can write a classical or non-classical haiku on a given prompt. Haiku is an ancient Japanese poetry form. A haiku has three short lines and describes a short moment (as short as the sound of a pebble thrown into water). Mostly a haiku counts 5-7-5 syllables and is sometimes called 'counted verse.'"


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Haiku: Signs of Spring...

"You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep spring from coming." Pablo Neruda

Haiku: Signs of Spring...

 A winged friend returns
Shared gifts of cool breeze, spring flowers
Sadness vanishes...


Today, the words are Butterfly and Coming of Spring

What is Carpe Diem?  Blog Owner, Kristjaan Panneman,  describes it as:  "a weblog on haiku. It's a new daily haiku meme where you can write a classical or non-classical haiku on a given prompt. Haiku is an ancient Japanese poetry form. A haiku has three short lines and describes a short moment (as short as the sound of a pebble thrown into water). Mostly a haiku counts 5-7-5 syllables and is sometimes called 'counted verse.'"




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Haiku: Full Snow Moon Plus Two...

"Slowly, silently, now the moon, walks the night in her silver shoon" Walter de la Mare 
 

Haiku:  Full Snow Moon Plus Two...

 ^{© Rastan | Stock Free Images}


Full snow moon
Show me Paradise
Before noon...

Dear snow moon
Did you just call me?
Let's have tea...

Haiku:  Full Snow Moon Plus Two...

Caterpillar Queen
Rejoice at the coming Spring
Soon, a butterfly...

From cocoon to free
Wings spread out majestically
Soon, a colony...
 
Today, the words are Full Snow Moon, Caterpillar, and Strangers

What is Carpe Diem?  Blog Owner, Kristjaan Panneman,  describes it as:  "a weblog on haiku. It's a new daily haiku meme where you can write a classical or non-classical haiku on a given prompt. Haiku is an ancient Japanese poetry form. A haiku has three short lines and describes a short moment (as short as the sound of a pebble thrown into water). Mostly a haiku counts 5-7-5 syllables and is sometimes called 'counted verse.'"




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Haiku: Courage, Shimmer And Four More...

"One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roof, or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls."  Khaled Hosseini

Haiku: Courage, Shimmer And Four More...

^{© Yujiro | Stock Free Images}

Mount Fuji's breath, ligths
Shimmering gently at night
Moon and sea toast you...

Sweet memories rise
Fifth Station treats and the hike
To summit's beauty...

Immortal mountain
A place of scenic beauty
Fujisan's delight...




This week, the prompt/words are: Sugar and Shimmer

What is a haiku?
 As Leo of Haiku Heights aptly explains, a haiku is a three line poem. It shows what the author wants us to understand from it, rather than tell it directly. The limitation to a haiku is seventeen syllables. It can be at maximum, that much. If you wish to go by the traditional Japanese structure even with English haiku, you can use a 5-7-5 syllable, or 3-5-3 syllable structure





I've combined two weeks worth of Haiku to help keep me on track and up to date with the group. I took some time out to work on my other blog and I'm delighted to be back writing and reading haiku with my  blog friends here. Do you have more than one blog? How do you manage your blogs? I'm curious to know.

"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear."  Mark Twain

Haiku: Courage, Shimmer And Four More...

Courage comes to town
When fear is faced, called a lout
Till then, we ponder...

A Rouge flower dream
dew drops gather for a kiss
Each kiss, a flower...



Today, the words are Courage, Rouge Flower, Castle, Forsythia

What is Carpe Diem?  Blog Owner, Kristjaan Panneman,  describes it as:  "a weblog on haiku. It's a new daily haiku meme where you can write a classical or non-classical haiku on a given prompt. Haiku is an ancient Japanese poetry form. A haiku has three short lines and describes a short moment (as short as the sound of a pebble thrown into water). Mostly a haiku counts 5-7-5 syllables and is sometimes called 'counted verse.'"





Again, I have combined/added a number of the prompts I missed from Kristjaan's Carpe Diem on this post, and then, I've added the rest I missed, during my time away, to my other post: Haiku: Wisdom, Hope And A Troika... I could have easily started with the most recent offering but, I love practicing each new word; it helps me improve. Plus, this will afford me the chance to play catch up too. Hope you enjoy the choices and please check out the rest on my other post! Thank you.  More Below.

Haiku: Wisdom, Hope And A Troika...

"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." Socrates
 

Haiku: Wisdom, Hope And A Troika...

Prudence in repose
Knows all our strengths and failings
Lessons we must learn...

Expectance rises
Ten years waiting in the wings
To debut on stage...



Today, the words are  Morning Glory, Bell, Iceberg, Wisdom, Hope.

What is Carpe Diem?  Blog Owner, Kristjaan Panneman,  describes it as:  "a weblog on haiku. It's a new daily haiku meme where you can write a classical or non-classical haiku on a given prompt. Haiku is an ancient Japanese poetry form. A haiku has three short lines and describes a short moment (as short as the sound of a pebble thrown into water). Mostly a haiku counts 5-7-5 syllables and is sometimes called 'counted verse.'"





In case you are wondering, I have combined, on this post, a number of the prompts from Kristjaan that I missed during my time away. The rest are on my other post: Haiku: Courage, Shimmer And Four More...  I find that practicing with new words helps me work on my our haiku skills and learn new ways to interpret ideas in such a brief medium.  I hope you enjoy the choices here and please check out my other post for the rest! Thank you.  More Below.

Haiku: Expressions Of Jealousy...

"Don't waste time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind." Mary Schmich

Lady Jealousy...
Today, raised her pretty head
Spewed poisonous words...

In silent disgust...
The seething lady made plans
Take the other out...


Today, the word is Jealousy

What is Carpe Diem?  Blog Owner, Kristjaan Panneman,  describes it as:  "a weblog on haiku. It's a new daily haiku meme where you can write a classical or non-classical haiku on a given prompt. Haiku is an ancient Japanese poetry form. A haiku has three short lines and describes a short moment (as short as the sound of a pebble thrown into water). Mostly a haiku counts 5-7-5 syllables and is sometimes called 'counted verse.'"


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Haiku: The Perils Of Greed...

"Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction."  Erich Fromm

Haiku: The Perils Of Greed... The Goose that laid the Golden eggs

Haiku: The Perils Of Greed...  The dog and the bone

Farmer killed the goose
Bird that laid the golden eggs
Such perils of greed... 

Greedy dog drops bone
To shadow box the unknown
Loss is his reward...

I referred back to stories of greed from Aesop's Tales. These are stories I read as a child and they terrified me. The underlying message I got was always that evil befalls greedy people. 

 
Today, the word is Greed

What is Carpe Diem?  Blog Owner, Kristjaan Panneman,  describes it as:  "a weblog on haiku. It's a new daily haiku meme where you can write a classical or non-classical haiku on a given prompt. Haiku is an ancient Japanese poetry form. A haiku has three short lines and describes a short moment (as short as the sound of a pebble thrown into water). Mostly a haiku counts 5-7-5 syllables and is sometimes called 'counted verse.'"

Haiku: A Touch Of Red And Vanity...

"I've stopped racing to get to the red light." Kyle Chandler

Haiku: A Touch Of Red And Vanity...

Red lanterns
Steps taken for luck
New Year treats...


Vain lady in red
Caught between present and past
Relief comes in spring...

This week, the prompt/word is: Red

What is a haiku?
 As Leo of Haiku Heights aptly explains, a haiku is a three line poem. It shows what the author wants us to understand from it, rather than tell it directly. The limitation to a haiku is seventeen syllables. It can be at maximum, that much. If you wish to go by the traditional Japanese structure even with English haiku, you can use a 5-7-5 syllable, or 3-5-3 syllable structure








"Vanity is but the surface." Blaise Pascal

Haiku: A Touch Of Red And Vanity...

 All is vanity
Jewels from worldly travels
All mean naught to God...


 Today, the word is Vanity

What is Carpe Diem?  Blog Owner, Kristjaan Panneman,  describes it as:  "a weblog on haiku. It's a new daily haiku meme where you can write a classical or non-classical haiku on a given prompt. Haiku is an ancient Japanese poetry form. A haiku has three short lines and describes a short moment (as short as the sound of a pebble thrown into water). Mostly a haiku counts 5-7-5 syllables and is sometimes called 'counted verse.'"

Haiku: Four To Contemplate...

"What we plant in the soil of contemplation, we shall reap in the harvest of action." Meister Eckhart 

Haiku: Four To Contemplate...

Haiku: Four To Contemplate...

Windmill churns...
A steady hand moves
With rhythm.

Newly wed...
Dreams of  Stork visits
A baby...


The words are:  Windmill and Stork

What is Carpe Diem?  Blog Owner, Kristjaan Panneman,  describes it as:  "a weblog on haiku. It's a new daily haiku meme where you can write a classical or non-classical haiku on a given prompt. Haiku is an ancient Japanese poetry form. A haiku has three short lines and describes a short moment (as short as the sound of a pebble thrown into water). Mostly a haiku counts 5-7-5 syllables and is sometimes called 'counted verse.'"






Today, I'm taking some liberty to catch up on the haiku I didn't get to do over the weekend. For me, I find that writing haiku requires, contemplation, observation and surrender... We surrender to the process so the ideas and words can form. Sometimes, they come in a clear and complete voice and at other times, I have to wait and contemplate the word a bit more...

Haiku: In Praise Of Sakura And Taiko...

"Music exists for the purpose of growing an admirable heart." Shinichi Suzuki 

Haiku: In Praise Of Sakura And Taiko...

Haiku: In Praise Of Sakura And Taiko...

Sakura! Praises...
Lifted by the Taiko sounds
Like the heart's murmur...



Today, the word is Sakura (Japan)

What is Carpe Diem?  Blog Owner, Kristjaan Panneman,  describes it as:  "a weblog on haiku. It's a new daily haiku meme where you can write a classical or non-classical haiku on a given prompt. Haiku is an ancient Japanese poetry form. A haiku has three short lines and describes a short moment (as short as the sound of a pebble thrown into water). Mostly a haiku counts 5-7-5 syllables and is sometimes called 'counted verse.'"



 

Sakura is the name for both the famous Japanese Cherry Blossoms and the traditional folkloric music...  Taiko is the name for the equally famous Japanese drums. This celebration is of Japanese music and while I've shown the Cherry Blossom tree,  music resonate through and in everything.
More below!

Haiku: For The Love Of Fado Music...

"Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent." Victor Hugo

Haiku: For The Love Of Fado Music... Mariza

                                                   Amália Rodrigues known as Rainha do Fado ("Queen of Fado) - Coimbra

A Fado dirge calls...
Ancient sounds from a distance
Mariza's fate song...

Love's deep scars revealed...
For love of Fado music
Sing, Saudade Queen...


 Today, the word is Fado (Portugal)

What is Carpe Diem?  Blog Owner, Kristjaan Panneman,  describes it as:  "a weblog on haiku. It's a new daily haiku meme where you can write a classical or non-classical haiku on a given prompt. Haiku is an ancient Japanese poetry form. A haiku has three short lines and describes a short moment (as short as the sound of a pebble thrown into water). Mostly a haiku counts 5-7-5 syllables and is sometimes called 'counted verse.'"





Are you familiar with Fado music? Fado, which means destiny or fate in Portuguese, is a special category of music from the 1820s with origins in Portugal. It is often played with a classical guitar, and can be described as  "a form of music characterized by mournful tunes and lyrics, often about the sea or the life of the poor, and infused with a characteristic sentiment of resignation, fatefulness and melancholia (loosely captured by the word "saudade", or longing)" Wikipedia.

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Haiku: A Tango Or Two...

"Let us read and let us dance -- two amusements that will never do any harm to the world." Voltaire

Shall we dance again?
Do the Tango in the rain...
Argentina style

A Tango for two...
Heat reduced by cool, white suits
Slow, hypnotic dance...


Today, the word is Tango (Argentina)

What is Carpe Diem?  Blog Owner, Kristjaan Panneman,  describes it as:  "a weblog on haiku. It's a new daily haiku meme where you can write a classical or non-classical haiku on a given prompt. Haiku is an ancient Japanese poetry form. A haiku has three short lines and describes a short moment (as short as the sound of a pebble thrown into water). Mostly a haiku counts 5-7-5 syllables and is sometimes called 'counted verse.'"




 I love dance; all forms of dance. Tango, which originated in Rio de la Plata, part of the border between Argentina and Uruguay, is sensual, undulating and captivating to watch. It remains a competition dance floor favorite. More Below!

Haiku: Musings On Pride And Mariachi Melodies...

"There is this paradox in pride -- it makes some men ridiculous, but prevents others from becoming so." Charles Caleb Colton

Haiku: Musings On Pride And Mariachi Melodies...

Pride lies under foot
Caught by delusions, grand schemes
All is vanity

Tombstone marked for Pride
Lies here, pompous warrior
Consumed by conceit...


 This week, the prompt/word is: Pride

What is a haiku?
 As Leo of Haiku Heights aptly explains, a haiku is a three line poem. It shows what the author wants us to understand from it, rather than tell it directly. The limitation to a haiku is seventeen syllables. It can be at maximum, that much. If you wish to go by the traditional Japanese structure even with English haiku, you can use a 5-7-5 syllable, or 3-5-3 syllable structure




"To stop the flow of music would be like the stopping of time itself, incredible and inconceivable." Aaron Copland  

Haiku: Musings On Pride And Mariachi Melodies...

 My mariachi
Heady melodies at noon
Lovers fight, make up

Mariachi tunes
Laden, old country love songs
Caught between rich foods...


Today, the word is Mariachi (Mexico)

What is Carpe Diem?  Blog Owner, Kristjaan Panneman,  describes it as:  "a weblog on haiku. It's a new daily haiku meme where you can write a classical or non-classical haiku on a given prompt. Haiku is an ancient Japanese poetry form. A haiku has three short lines and describes a short moment (as short as the sound of a pebble thrown into water). Mostly a haiku counts 5-7-5 syllables and is sometimes called 'counted verse.'"




 More Below!

Inspiration: A Haiku Trio...

"In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider." King Solomon

Inspiration: A Haiku Trio...

The word for today is Joyful

Make a joyful sound
A happy statue shows joy
Even when life's sad


“I sat me down to watch upon a bank With ivy canopied and interwove With flaunting honeysuckle.”  John Milton 

Inspiration: A Haiku Trio...

The word for today is a Carpe Diem Special #20, Chiyo-ni's The flowering branch of the plum

My plum blossom dreams
On a tree far, far from me
Fresh, fragrant blooms sing

What is Carpe Diem?  Blog Owner, Kristjaan Panneman,  describes it as:  "a weblog on haiku. It's a new daily haiku meme where you can write a classical or non-classical haiku on a given prompt. Haiku is an ancient Japanese poetry form. A haiku has three short lines and describes a short moment (as short as the sound of a pebble thrown into water). Mostly a haiku counts 5-7-5 syllables and is sometimes called 'counted verse.'"



More below!

Reflections: Walking With Haiku...

"Beware of the man who will not engage in idle conversation; he is planning to steal your walking stick or water your stock." William Emerson

 Reflections: Walking With Haiku...

 A walking stick tale
We knew he would never fail
To bring home the bait...

The word for today is Staff/Walking Stick 

What is Carpe Diem?  Blog Owner, Kristjaan Panneman,  describes it as:  "a weblog on haiku. It's a new daily haiku meme where you can write a classical or non-classical haiku on a given prompt. Haiku is an ancient Japanese poetry form. A haiku has three short lines and describes a short moment (as short as the sound of a pebble thrown into water). Mostly a haiku counts 5-7-5 syllables and is sometimes called 'counted verse.'"



I  can't believe we've started a new month and I achieved my goal of adding a post a day to this blog. If you're visiting for the first time, I had let this blog lie dormant for a year as my attention was focused on family demands and my WordPress blog. This year, I made a commitment to add content here on a regular basis, and find a way to balance writing my two blogs.

January was focused on Small Stones and this month I'll do more Haiku and other writing. Today, I'm adding Haiku from Carpe Diem; a daily haiku group. I will do a few from this group as well as the weekly Haiku Heights. I've also decided to save my weekends (no weekend blogging unless for an important holiday) for other matters, including catching up on blog visits I missed during the week with you. Thank you all for your support!
More below!

Small Stones: Moon Gazing...

"Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth." Buddha

Small Stones: Moon Gazing...

Small Stones: Moon Gazing...

Small Stones #31
I love gazing at the moon and imagining things
Could new worlds exist there?
Could we travel in our minds and meet lifeforms there?
Outside my home, the moon beckoned
I followed and captured these shots...
A branch leaned in for a look in #2
Distant stars showed up as red flecks...
Good night Moon, Good bye Stones...

  More & Links to my other Small Stones in Related Posts Below.

Musings: Good Deeds Flow...

"To be doing good deeds is man's most glorious task." Sophocles

Musings: Good Deeds Flow...

Small Stones #30
The Good we do flows out and then back to us
Like a river cleansing and healing the banks
wherever it goes
Good deeds Flow...

More Below!

Inspiration: Hold On To The Light...

“There is not enough darkness in all the world to put out the light of even one small candle” Robert Alden
 

Inspiration: Hold On To The Light...

Small Stones#29
A flickering flame...
Candle light fills the room
Where once there was despair,
Now hope has found a way
And gained a hold there
When the darkness battles to stride in
Even a sliver of light will do...
Hold on to the light
Hold on to the light
Hold on to the light

 

What are small stones?
  According to the originators of this wonderful exercise, a small stone is a short piece of writing (prose or poetry) that precisely captures a fully-engaged moment. The process of discovering small stones is as important as the finished product. Searching for small stones will encourage you to keep all your senses; - your eyes,(and ears, nose, mouth, fingers, feelings and mind) open.



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Reflections: Winter's Call...

"What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.” John Steinbeck 

Reflections: Winter's Call...

To Winter - by William Blake (from Poetical Sketches, 1783)
 O winter! bar thine adamantine doors:
The north is thine; there hast thou built thy dark
Deep-founded habitation. Shake not thy roofs
Nor bend thy pillars with thine iron car.

He hears me not, but o’er the yawning deep
Rides heavy; his storms are unchain’d, sheathed
In ribbed steel; I dare not lift mine eyes;
For he hath rear’d his sceptre o’er the world. Contd Below 

Small Stones#28
I can't help but notice winter's frosty blanket
It's everywhere and on everything...
It slows our pace and numbs our hands
It forces us to contemplate... 

What are small stones?
  According to the originators of this wonderful exercise, a small stone is a short piece of writing (prose or poetry) that precisely captures a fully-engaged moment. The process of discovering small stones is as important as the finished product. Searching for small stones will encourage you to keep all your senses; - your eyes,(and ears, nose, mouth, fingers, feelings and mind) open.




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Inspiration: Share Some Gratitude...

"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude." Denis Waitley 

Inspiration: Share Some Gratitude ...  Circle of Hands by © Patrizia Maimouna Guerresi.

Small Stones #27
What am I grateful for?
I started leaving bread out for the birds
It has been so cold...
I saw them yesterday gather for the food.
Some squirrels too.
I'm grateful for all life
One hand feeds another...

What are small stones?
  According to the originators of this wonderful exercise, a small stone is a short piece of writing (prose or poetry) that precisely captures a fully-engaged moment. The process of discovering small stones is as important as the finished product. Searching for small stones will encourage you to keep all your senses; - your eyes,(and ears, nose, mouth, fingers, feelings and mind) open.



More Below!