Just Karma 201 September 2016 b

Just Karma 201

modifications

(haibun)

Adjustments. If it is misty put on a raincoat, take a different

Route. Stop and chat with the neighbors. Even the ones who

are moving out. Walk between the storm that has moved in

for about twenty-four hours. With the wind that knocks over

the same potted plant three times. And knocks off the green

tomato left on the vine on the last day of the month. I suppose

it is time to harvest the rest of the green tomatoes. And maybe

the last of the green peppers that were supposed to be yellow.

almost three miles

most of that indoors; due to

saturating rains

©JP/dh

Just Karma 200 September 2016 b

  Attribution here

The Spirit of the Chinese Character
From the book by Barbara Aria and Russell Eng Gon

Just Karma 200

Ch’i

(haibun)

to have energy

one must move; is five miles

in one day enough

Woken early to assist family; stopped at the one hundred year flood

plain vibrant with wild flowers (surrounded by a circular path). Brief s

top back home before walking to the library, just to see if I could.

On the way home stopped for a bowl of soup before the return journey.

There is always motion in any given day - all toll about five miles plus.

energy to heal

aid in a good night's sleeping

in one day; enough

©JP/dh

Just Karma 199 September 2016 b

Just Karma 199

honks...

(renga)

early sky reveals

geese making a figure eight

flight ...a practice run?

six days into autumn they

announce their presence, “Watch us!”

I stopped, looking up

at their graceful flight, broken

V - amid the blue

©JP/dh

Just Karma 198 September 2016 b

Just Karma 198

Seventy-five Thousand

(Elfje series)

Thousands

Of steps

Can be achieved

Even without leaving one’s

Home

Trick

May be

To not count

Repeated trips up and

Down

And

Going back

And forth the

Full length of one’s

Abode  

©JP/dh

Just Karma 197 September 2016 b

Just Karma 197

Change of Route/Routine

(Elfje series)

Scarf

Wound around

My silent throat

Walking briskly to stay

Warm

Too

Much dew

Already sniffing, not

Going to get feet

Wet

Traffic

In the

Morning at the

Bottom of the hill;

Retreat

Sun

Barely up

Beyond this dawn;

pink clouds foretell arriving

Warmth

©JP/dh

Just Karma 196 September 2016 b

Just Karma 196

Continuing Education

(a haibun)

Over the years I have paced my area around my home

attempting to maintain a few gardens, adding some trees

to attract the birds and the bees...

The other day I had a gent walk about with me - helping

To identify that which the wind or animals had gifted me -

that which I did not plant myself...

Virginia Creeper, Honeysuckle, Box Elder, Horsechestnut,

just to name a few and others I’ve already forgotten -

perhaps when he comes back to do some clearing I’ll

make myself a booklet for easy identification, but not

at dusk when the mosquitoes choose to nibble us both!

fascinating tour

right in my own gardens; I

find nature teaches

©JP/dh

http://www2.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/virginia_creeper.htm

The Virginia creeper plant, also called American ivy, ampelopsis and woodbine, can cause

a skin rash, according to the Poison Ivy, Oak & Sumac Information Center. The Virginia creeper

plant has sap that contains oxalate crystals, a substance known to cause skin irritation and rash

....Just because it doesn't bother some people, does not mean it's harmless. Although it seems

to affect a small percentage of the population, if you're one of them - watch out!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honeysuckle Also attracts Monarch butterflies and Luna moths.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acer_negundo

Just Karma 195 September 2016 b

Just Karma 195

Grand ‘Son’

(haibun)

Just how busy can a six year old keep you? Train tracks have trains traveling

a maze of wooden trails, some leading to another group of toys set up as a

stop on the town...taking up all the square footage of the room.

We get derailed out into nature to visit two different parks; Climbing rocks,

scampering over bridges, sliding and hiding in tubes and tunnels before

escaping the heat into the library.

The silo room is filled with building toys, a different train; another country of

building blocks for imaginative play - We borrow some videos for perhaps a

quiet time after stopping at the library cafe store for a snack and books!

Once back home lunch is but a refueling station, milked for all it is worth;

Grama breathes while the video entertains the child who will rest, but not nap.

There is a request for macaroni cargo for the trains to haul, after a brief look

at the huge spider web found outside...Daddy arrives and Son of Son does

not want to leave - It’s the first time in a long time he’s had Grama all to himself

without Little Miss joining them. Ever the negotiator Son of Son pleads for a

repeat of the day...tomorrow...

grandchildren; blessings

change the scheduled plans of peace -

brightening our daze

©JP/dh

Just Karma 194 September 2016 b

Just Karma 194

Seasonal Impact

(Eljfe series)

color

now intense

as autumn begins;

crisp dry leaves will

fall

before

the last

harvest is culled ~

remember the buds of

spring

prepare

will you

for the shortest,

coldest of days of

winter

color

soak in

every last drop

for the dreams of

Summer

fall ~

autumn’s begun

early due lingers

less light, my emotions

intense...

©JP/dh

Just Karma 193 September 2016 b

Just Karma 193

The More We Get Together...

(an Elfje quad)

Heavy

The steps

In black shoes

Solomon gathering; attending a

Funeral

Lighten

The load

For the friend

In need of our

Support

Morning

In mourning

Remembering the life

Of those once breath

Filled

Cycles;

Beginnings, ends.

Time to grieve -

Then move forward ~ beyond

Tears...

©JP/dh

Just Karma 192 for September 2016 b

Just Karma 192

Model Moderation

(mini haibun)

Giving the example of good health is but one way

to shed light on how to take care of our lives.

Being active with family or alone, will help prolong

our life-light for our own future as well as others.

Drink ~ water, eat ~ fruit and vegetables, be ~kind.

one thousand steps; more

or less; or be active

an hour every day

be successful at being

who you are, accept yourself

©JP/dh

I want to be thoroughly used up when I die.

Life is not brief candle to me; it is a sort of splendid torch

which I get a hold of for the moment and I want to make

it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to the

future generations. ~George Bernard Shaw

Life’s Little Treasure Book: On Success

by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Just Karma 191 for September 2016 b

Just Karma 191

Intuitively Level

(mini haibun)

I have walked the path around the table where

committees of a few or many have, like inactive knights

about the ‘round have sat. Boastful, loud, demanding and

ambitious opinions swirl like the power surrounding the

quiet eye of the storm...nothing happens...quickly.   

burst free, ride solo

from the storm’s ruckus, live free;

become the rainbow

I have learned to listen to my own voice,

the one that few actually hear... my eyes no longer tear up at

not being a part of the crowd commanded or cowed. Content,

I live daily with the choices I make; accepting my reflection,

with mild consideration of others rejection.

©JP/dh

Forget committees.

New, noble, world-changing ideas always come

from one person working alone.

Life’s Little Treasure Book: On Success

by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Just Karma 190 for September 2016 b

Just Karma 190

It’s a Wrap

(mini haibun)

I have walked the volunteer road.

The one less traveled - given some lauds and laurel...

that I had not sought. So now I pace a few different paths.

Not expecting to be found... just giving some time

with my hands, twisting yarn to

keep others warm...

turning odd scrap l e n g t h s,

colors, weights to usable

neckwear for winter

©JP/dh

Volunteer. Sometimes the jobs no one wants

conceal big opportunities.

Life’s Little Treasure Book: On Success

by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

https://wrapupproject.org/about/