Ancient Laughter

Carpe Diem "Tan Renga Challenge #66 Jen's Ancient Laughter
Nez Pierce Indians are lead by wayakin or spirits, which young boys or girls receive during a vision quest.  They bestow the powers of the bird or animal that is seen upon the quester.

ancient laughter

captured in a canyon wind – 

yucca leaves, rustling                 (© Jen)

wayakin guardian guide
bestows animal power

Tempting Waves - Ten Renga Challenge

Carpe Diem's Tan Renga Challenge #62, Björn Rudberg's "tempting waves"

tempting waves -

the old boat still needs

a little rest                                               © Björn Rudberg

covered in tall grass and flowers
we read beneath it’s cool shade

tempting waves -

the old boat still needs

a little rest                                              © Björn Rudberg

we scrape the moss covered hull
restoring both boat and dreams

tempting waves -

the old boat still needs

a little rest                                              © Björn Rudberg

lying in sunshine
lulled by gentle pitch

Full Circle

Carpe Diem Full Circle # 2 Puddles  This was given in August, but is new for me

Twelve (12) words (for every ''hour'') one word. The goal is to write haiku using the words as given in the clock wise way. Here are the 12 (twelve) words for this episode:

1. sunflower

2. rain storm

3. puddles

4. sea shore

5. shells

6. making love

7. garden

8. waterfall

9. stones

10. sunrise

11. peony

12. shadow

ripened sunflower

head bent from rainstorm

puddles of seeds

~

moonlit seashore

shells whisperer secrets

memories making love

~

overgrown garden

waterfall spurts from gutter

mossy stones twinkle

~

in the sunrise

prize peony blossom

shadows your face

Shell Games

Carpe Diem #14 Sparkling Stars 

from I Love Shelling

at the water’s edge

coquina burro in sand

gulls feast

Troiku - Peace

Carpe Diem # 618 Peace

Trying a new form of haiku , Troiku by Kristjaan Panneman.  Learn more about it here: Troiku

peace flowing 

in a river of blood

fallen soldiers

                                               peace flowing

                                               old wounds heal

                                               balance restored

                                               in a river of blood

                                               all are washed clean

                                               redemption

                                              fallen soldiers

                                              make peace with their gods

                                              new flowers blossom

Peace

Carpe Diem #618 Peace

peace flowing 

in a river of blood

fallen soldiers

long walk home
cobwebs and demons dispelled
composure gained

Silly Fears

Oh the joys of being a grandparent. This past summer my grandchildren arrived for a week of grandcamp.  (This year we spent the week on dinosaur activities.)  The following is written about the first day.

on exiting car

grandkids holding ears in fear

night trill of treefrogs

early morning ruckus

grandchildren  singing 

to scare away hawk

Grandson shouting God Loves Me

Granddaughter squealing along

Their Watching Faces

Carpe Diem Special #120 Richard Wright's "their watching faces"

use the 5-7-5 rule ...

Their watching faces,

as I walk the autumn road

make me a traveler.

© Richard Wright

their black eyes watching

my movements in the garden

crows in the maple

in the autumn wind

the mournful cry of the geese

circles around me

lonely autumn road

hurriedly walking homeward

in freezing cold rain

Pad

Om Mani Padme Hum

The prompt this week at Haiku Shuukan is Pad Pad purifies ignorance and prejudice (animal realm)

Pad

in murky darkness

lotus blossom

bringing light

two ugly words

ignorance and prejudice

we must overcome

brotherhood

within our grasp

seeds scattered

Haiku Noir

Carpe Diem Ghost Writer #34 Haiku Noir
Ghost writer Jen from Blog It or Lose It

This prompt inspired a rash of unrelated poems:

steady rain

city full of dark streets

shadows lurk

alone in my room

broken laughter from the street

thick smoke and whiskey

traveling alone

desolate country road

your ghost follows

sweltry night

darkness tinged with fear

street lamp beckons

amidst the gaiety

behind the Mardi Gras masks

shadows stalk

banks of river

gauzy haze, murky water

two hookers smoke

Delight in Comany

Carpe Diem #617 Delight in Company

toddler’s giggles

echoes through the room

bringing new life

~

at the mention

of his granddaughter-in law

My father’s beams

Autumn Sunlight

Carpe Diem Time Glass # 12 Autumn Sunlight

sunlit autumn

a three legged dog

with a four legged shadow

~

in the autumn sunlight

snowflakes caught

in a spiderweb

Finite

Carpe Diem #616 Accepting the Finite

Alzheimer's is an incurable disease which robs the patient of memories.  I have witnesses many wives devoting all their time to sit with and care for a spouse.  My heart goes out to the patient and their spouse.  How do you grieve a loss when they are still in the room?

in his eyes
searching for recognition
finite memories 

~

snow and sunshine
mix of tears and laughter
memories fade

~

grief takes many turns
long winter's end
spiritual release

Exodus

Carpe Diem #615 Exodus

whirlwind of leaves

scurry down the street

in front of the snow

Paradise

Carpe Diem # 614 Paradise

waking 

entwined in your arms

paradise

waves break

over pristine sands

paradise found

Georgia's "a dream in a dream"

Carpe Diem Tan Renga Challenge #61, Georgia's "a dream in a dream"

Georgia of Bastet and Sekhmet's Library  wrote this lovely haiku for a  response on the GW-post on Poe.  

a dream in a dream

sand slipping through old fingers

autumn leaves turn red                            © Georgia

my head bowed in sorrow
as a new wave of tears break

a dream in a dream

sand slipping through old fingers

autumn leaves turn red                          © Georgia

your hand held tightly in mine
we walk into the sunset

Whirligig

Carpe Diem Little Critters # 13 Whirligig

shizumareba nagaruru ashi ya mizusumashi

the whirligig;

when it stops skating,

the legs float away

© Taigi

water tension

breaks as I try to catch

the whirligig

~

Whirligig skating

under the shadow

of a dragonfly

Tomas Tranströmer #5

Carpe Diem Special #119, Tomas Tranströmer's 5th "a wild boar plays the organ"

then the leaves whispered:

a wild boar plays the organ.

and the bells all rang

© Tomas Tranströmer

My Attempts:

we listen and watch

the dragon hiss and spit flames

old potbelly stove

~

cows circle around

gossiping under the oak 

the crow listens in

Solace

Carpe Diem # 613 Solace

This prompt for solace hits a delicate note today.  Today is the funeral of a dear friend and yesterday the passing of my husband’s aunt Mabel.  I think how can I be a source of comfort for my friends and family.  My tongue is not elegant, nor coated with wisdom.  My part will be in hand holding and hugs, then serving and cleaning up the funeral meal to the hundred people expected.  Later in the day, I will visit with in-laws.  My comfort will come from and be shared in the exchange of quiet memories of a beautiful woman.  I find solace in the last visit she had with the brother she raised since he was two.  He suffers from Alzheimer's.  I wondered if he even understood she was there. After she left, while I was with him, movement in the hallway made him call out her name. It brought me great comfort to realize the strength of love’s bond. 

tears and laughter

in memories shared

our solace

_

autumn’s splendor

whisked gentle away

warm embrace

painted memories shared

over steaming cups of tea

The Cold Within the Sound

Carpe Diem Ghost Writer # 35 Otagaki Rengetsu

This first one I wrote twice, one with the 31 syllables and one without.  Not sure which version I like better.  

winter snow

blankets the earth

deep silence falls

long shadows reaching

as cold creeps under skin

heavy winter snow

blankets the dormant earth

deep silence engulfs

long shadows stretch across lawn

as cold creeps under my coat

~

tree branches groan

under the weight

of snow and ice

inside we huddle by candle light

and shadows feed the fire

~

frozen droplets spit

crackling on the window pane

winter sounds chilling

I snuggle against your back

my cold hands disturb your sleep