“It does not matter …” Haiku – August 21, 2015

up the hillside road
walking slowly with his cane
again like yesterday

© G.s.k. ‘15

even the old dog
visits his favourite haunts
though half blind

© G.s.k. ‘15

though shattered and sad
she writes another poem
beautiful dawn

© G.s.k. ‘15

Written on August 19 for:

 Heeding Haiku With Chèvrefeuille August 19 th 2015 “use that quote”

[…] “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop”.[…]  by Confucius (551-479 BCE)

toro-toro to shiriyake chidori mata doko e

slowly, slowly
plover with burnt tail feathers
where to now?

© Kobayashi Issa (tr. David G. Lanoue)

Back to the Basics – Haiku – August 13, 2015

ah – cherry blossoms
in the garden it’s snowing
perfumed pink snow-flakes

© G.s.k. ‘15

The rules of classical haiku:

5-7-5 syllables
A moment as short as the sound of a pebble thrown into water
A kigo (season word)
A deeper, spiritual meaning
And last, but not least, it must have a nature image

 

Heeding Haiku With Chèvrefeuille August 12th 2015 Classical Japanese Garden

Orange Persimmons … Haiku – August 7, 2015

those haunting bagpipes
mists over the foreign highlands
a call for freedom

This second haiku is closer to my reality …  😉

orange persimmons
mists over the foreign highlands
my adopted home

© G.s.k. ‘15

This was written for Heeding Haiku with Chèvrefeuille August 5th 2015 “completing the haiku” and it was quite an original feature indeed – and not as simple as it might seem on first sight … here’s Chèvrefeuille’s haiku example:

ancient warriors ghosts
mists over the foreign highlands –
waiting for the full moon

© Chèvrefeuille

Over the rainbow – July 24, 2015

The Fox Wedding – Photo Credits Found at Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai

 

sun showers
fall on a hot summer day
a double rainbow

pots of gold
or maybe Ketsune’s home
at rainbows end
treasures or adventure
after a sunny shower

In Japan people used to believe and some still tell their children, that Ketune, the magical fox kami who often transforms herself into a woman, lives at the end of the rainbow!  They also believed that when the rain falls with sunshine, the foxes hold their wedding ceremonies and that it was best to avoid walking in the woods. I write a little story about sun showers and Ketune the other day, you can find it HERE! Inspired by one of the “Dreams” of Akira Kurosawa.

§§§

one day
flying over a rainbow
of what was
of what could be
ah … one day

© G.s.k. ‘15

Written for: Heeding Haiku with HA

Summer Dreams – July 17, 2015

crimson flowers
dancing in the open fields
a summer dream

longing for something
not knowing where to look I lay
watching the clouds
seeing fluffy bunnies
thinking of Terry Pratchett*

© G.s.k. ‘15

 

*see video

Written for Heeding Haiku with HA

Water 2 – July 11, 2015

letting go
overwhelmed by the sea
floating in water
sweet touch of eternity
in the caressing waves

summer delight
looking at the rain
as it falls
upon my face in cascades
kissing my cheeks and eyes

sweet caress
water flows down my back
cool falling rain
sending shivers of delight
along my naked spine

G.s.k. ‘15

Written for Heeding Haiku with HA – Water

Water – Heeding Haiku with Ha – July 11, 2015

Two women collect water for their families in rural Northern Ghana. PHOTO: Laura Robson

burning fields
relief from a summer storm
watering the crops

off to the river
the woman carries her jar
to collect water

along the river
green shoots of millet
sprouts after the rain

parched earth
water-less maze of cracks
African summer

G.s.k. ‘15

We open our taps and water flows out … hot or cold!  Filling up a pan for pasta is a flick of the wrist and we’ve a few litres of water on the boil.  We wash our clothes, often daily, as well as ourselves of course.  And let’s not forget our handy flush toilets!

All this is wonderful and for us normal. Not so in many parts of our planet.  Water is one of the most precious resources that we have, believe it or not even more precious than our fast disappearing oil resources – without oil our whole civilization will collapse quickly, that’s true, but without water our life will be unsustainable on this planet.

Living in Africa for nearly ten years has taught me the preciousness of water.  Clean water, water in abundance that doesn’t need to be filtered, that’s right on tap is an impossible dream for many people.

each single drop
earth’s gift of life
sweet water

G.s.k. ‘15

 For more information about Water Scarcity in the world click HERE.

Written for Heeding Haiku with HA – Water

Starling Flight – July 7, 2015

dancing starlings
enchant the evening skies
hypnotic flight

swirling flight
over Rome in the evening
starling dance

© G.s.k. ‘15

Written for: Heeding Haiku with Ha!

Mid Year – July 1, 2015

at mid-year’s feast
dreaming in fire-fly light
maybe a fairy will pass

© G.s.k. ‘15

Heeding Haiku With HA

Friendship – June 12, 2015

we walked together
not always hand in hand
our goals common
always sharing good and bad
whispered secrets
we shared – our strength our love
as time passed
the bond seemed stronger still
though life is funny
in just one short moment
something changed
though we’re still the best of friends
we each walk another road

Walking in a vale of tears, or laughing into the rain and sun, what makes this life more livable is the one you can call, your friend.  Lovers, spouses, siblings and other relationships … though lasting, satisfying and intimate often lack that special quality that we call friendship.  We often say our spouse is our friend … but usually that’s not true. The very nature of marriage precludes the altruistic quality that should be found in friendship. Or maybe I’m just “wishfully” thinking that it’s possible to know someone and share who one really is, without a mask, without holding back.

a knot of love
invisible to all but us
friendship

© G.s.k. ‘15

Written for: Heeding Haiku With HA: Friendship