free flyers

free flyers               12/26

(after landing)

a helix of large birds

enclosed in the thermal

the lone white egret

along the causeway

neighborhood moorhens

in a small pond -

(Muscovy ducks?)

black capped gulls...

in the reserve par klands,

all on the route to our

getaway destination

then at the end of the pier

there, two pelicans resting

in the late afternoon -

in the distance Atlantic...

(c) JP/dh

A Toast to Foretaste (a haibun)

A Toast to Foretaste        (a haibun) 12.25

Checking our own lists

Watered the plants

Washed the dishes

Add more seed to the squirrel...

Bird feeder

Busy day

On the calendar

Family feasting -

Overnight in Maryland

Early flight south on the ‘morrow

Landing before the sun sets

The ‘Key’ to a week away

see that silver bird

I might be sitting in it -

thinking of warm sand

Might be a tad quiet here

Over the next week or so

Though I’ll attempt

To stick my two cents in

Upon occasion

Routines will return to that

So-called normal, perhaps

When the calendar page turns...

Just when we’ll return is

Still a tad open-ended

We’ll make some memories

To keep, and some to share...

soon enough, just blink -

deplane, rent car; register

adventure begins...

©JP/dh    

camaraderie MLM Ha : Music 12.24

camaraderie                 MLM Ha : Music 12.24

(uncounted haiku/renga short, long, short)

amused with

different beats; delightful

toys make noise

music box dancers

and foursided tops

sharing blessings;

flaming candle wishes

all that jazz

©JP/dh

MLM heeding-haiku-with-ha-music

an easy escalade (three prompts) 12.23

an easy escalade

(a choka - haibun using three prompts 12.23)

the engineer rode

a long life over the rails

sometimes traveled by

car, bus, or even airplane

used his two feet too -

favored the beloved train.

oft his own wife thought

she was second fiddle to

the iron maiden

that had stolen his heart so

early in his youth.

perhaps the old man wondered

if he would meet his wife who

just years before went

with an angel guide, straight up -

he had been so lost

without her strength; took his cane

and went for a stroll -

t’was only fitting to be

called up to the gate

by St. Peter; a stair

of rails ascending

up into the pearly clouds

gentle the slope there

on the old abandoned line -

peacefully found his way...home.

***

do you hear it... the

fading echo whispers still -

reuniting souls

©JP/dh

CD ghost-writer-post-39 choka form

MLM photo-prompt-40-december-23-2014  

      Photo of ‘Heaven Zone’ by Manuel Rodriguez Sanchez

haibun-thinking-december-23rd-2014

    “Not all those who wander are lost”J.R.R. Tolkien

    (The Fellowship of the Ring)

...tradition... CD Candles 12.22

...tradition...   CD Candles 12.22

electric lights shine

in the front frosted window

rededication

the seventh night; eight candles

a different tradition, rests

we help each other

celebrate all the month has

waxing poetic

©JP/dh

12.22.14

CD DEC 21, 2014 candles

Merry Berry, Happy Solstice, Kind Kwanzaa and Happy Chanukah to all.

Joy to all in every winter celebration.

twelfth month memories CD Special 123 12.21

twelfth month memories       CD Special 123 12.21        

The scarecrow's old hat

Was flung by the winter wind

Into a graveyard.                                                                © Richard Wright

landed on memories grave

the elder lost way too young

and the young not quite

able to breathe that first breath

so very still, cold

yet there the hat rested on

the flag of those who served true

father, brother, and

uncle, sister, mother, aunt -

grandparents who gave

along with the orphan and

the stranger - compassion's friend

tumbled yet again

over the flowers left there

weathered and brittle

the sun can only fade cloth

not the love kept in the heart

for on the mantle

candles are lit to honor

each and everyone

throughout the year, mind open

with the thoughts of how and why

those gone might enjoy

visions now that living eyes

treasure with delight

winter is but one season -

capping the end of the year                                             © JP/dh

Note: While a cemetery is not my most favorite place. It is a challenge when days pass and we miss those we love. In this season last year we lost an elder. But when we gather to light candles and celebrate we always have a food item we know that would have brought joy to them. Without words it is like having them join us. Their presence honored. And too we remember all those, who that scarecrow's’ hat in the graveyard might have tumbled by...

CD -special-123-richard-wrights Scarecrow's hat

So you have to start with this opening-verse or "hokku" and in your closing-verse or "ageku" there has to be a link or association back to this "hokku". Why? Well ... it's because of aesthetic reasons ... by linking or associating from the "ageku" to the "hokku" you make the "circle" complete.

"Soliloquy no Renga" in which I asked you to write a solo-renga with a maximum of 12 stanzas.

three different complete paths CD tan renga 64 12.20

three different complete paths       CD tan renga 64  12.20

curtain of light

shimmers in the winter cold

flight of fancy                                         (© Dolores)

in the middle of the night

Mother Nature's light show                   (© Chèvrefeuille)

1

curtain of light

shimmers in the winter cold

flight of fancy                                         (© Dolores)

through the country lace; patterns

on the hardwood floors; cat wakes         ©JP/dh

2

curtain of light

shimmers in the winter cold

flight of fancy                                         (© Dolores)

through her window, brilliant;

angel came to take her home                ©JP/dh

3

curtain of light

shimmers in the winter cold

flight of fancy                                         (© Dolores)

colored candles lined just so

on the window sill, warm us                     ©JP/dh

CD tan Renga 64

drill Sergeant? CD 629 woodpecker 12.20

drill Sergeant?                 CD 629 woodpecker  12.20

fickle red head

poking love messages

for all to see

love her, lover

get bugs for her, always

all the yard trees

might raid

the feeder hanging just for

me, me, me

©JP/dh                       

CD-629-woodpecker

...balance, strength, energy... CD 628 12.18

...balance, strength, energy...      CD 628 12.18

four blades for children

to get them started on ice

glide, slide, feeling free

takes balance, strength, energy

to feel so free, like flying

it is always fun

to watch the Zamboni clean

indoor oval rinks

©JP/dh                   12.18.14

CD -628-ice-skating

in synch (two prompts in one) 12.17

in synch                                (series for) MLM and CD prompts 12.17

so cold - teeth chatter

so numb, but not quite enough

to find rest in sleep

some friend to invite me north,

make me sleep on the cold floor

I was not prepared

to sleep as if on winter

grasses - such a state

after the fire was out,

the thermostat turned low

my skin like that of

withered mums outside the home

of the dark country

teasing the pre-teen soul that

expected comfort and warmth

even anger was

not enough to raise my hopes

of surviving night

morning came, not soon enough

mourning the end of that friend

my senses alert

I vowed to never be so

cold ever again

like blooming orchids

in a well kept greenhouse - I

would know constant warmth

from more than just the weather

I would also keep warm hearts

©JP/dh                                           

Ha asks us to write about ‘This Chill’ and Chèvrefeuille asks us to incorporate or play

again with these past themes: Carpe Diem # 68 Winter Grasses, # 82 Withered Mums

and # 294, Orchids. And so I have... in synch (or sync) noun : (1930-35; shortened form

of synchronization) 2. harmony or harmonious relationship.

Also note: I do not think it is fair of anyone to host another (especially a child) and expect

them to understand and adapt to weather to which they may not be prepared for. The family

I stayed with basically had no heat on at night. In the middle of winter in Connecticut it is more than just a slight chill that seeps into ones bones.  

http://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2014/12/17/heeding-haiku-with-ha-this-chill/

CD-ghost-writer-38

two Troiku CD Sp. 112

two Troiku                     

CD Sp. 112 R. Wright & Chèvrefeuille

I give permission

For this slow spring rain to soak

The violet beds.                                © Richard Wright

L1

I give permission

for you to wed father said -

welcome approval

L2

this slow spring rain to

this season of your birth, yet

we wed in autumn

L3

the violet beds

all gone, I held mums and three

red roses; bow tied                                      ©JP/dh

__________________________________________

children's laughter

playing in the fresh puddles

trampling the clouds                                   © Chèvrefeuille

L1

children’s laughter

their joys mixed with memory

of our elders - gone

L2

play in fresh puddles

disturbing rainbows; reflect

our forever promise

L3

trampling the clouds -

puffs disburse, reform;  and yet

we stay bonded - ‘we do’                              ©JP/dh

Please see link for how to play

CD-special-122-Troiku