Carpe Diem Love Month + Haiku My Heart: Butterflies, my First Love (Senryu)

Image by Schwoaze from Pixabay

lovely butterfly

small girl cries with all her heart

you lie motionless

~cie~

notes

I didn't want to write about romantic love. (Blech.) So I decided to write about one of the two things I loved very much as a child. My first experience with death involved finding a butterfly still on the sidewalk on a cold, rainy day while walking with my father at three years old. I was devastated. 

Fifty-two years have gone by since then. My father is now gone too.

Carpe Diem Renga with Issa: Sparrows

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spring peace--

after rain, a gang war

garden sparrows

the seeds that I have planted

are a victory buffet

don't let the plum blossom guard

cut your tongues...

Sparrows! 

let voices be a whisper

until you are safely past

are the sparrows too

having a private party?

plum blossoms

no, I was not invited

I now watch from the window

while I watch

he's off to make a living alone...

baby sparrow

sometimes the ones who leave home
invite the parents to stay

living in harmony--

the sparrow has

both parents!
will the parents be able
to live in harmony too?

on the tip of the

newly sprouted bamboo...

a baby sparrow
a small and innocent thing
in a world without a heart

~Issa and Cie~

Notes:

The Hokku stanzas in these Tan Renga verses were composed by Kobayashi Issa (June 15, 1763 – January 5, 1828). The Akegu stanzas were written by me.

The Akegu in the last three verses are references to my son, without whose kindness I would be homeless. The property he bought will eventually also become home to his father who is currently living in Arizona helping his own father. When his father passes, he will sell the place in Arizona and move here.

We were divorced in 1994 when our son was four years old, and we have lived in roommate situations since then, although I was always relieved when he moved on to something else if I am honest. That probably won't happen this time, due to compromises in his health as well as mine. However, this is a big enough place that we should be able to keep from killing each other.

Carpe Diem Weekend Meditation #90: Crossroads: Summer Solstice Troiku Hineri

Image by yibg from Pixabay

This Short Night

this short night -

from a shallow well I scoop

a persimmon flower

Insomnia

this short night

like many others, sleepless

I dread the morning

this short night
my mind is filled with worry
rest cannot be found

like many others, sleepless
I try to find some comfort
in the quiet dark

I dread the morning
unwanted expectations
putting on my mask

From the Well

from a shallow well I scoop

water kept cool underground

safe from sun's harsh blaze

from a shallow well I scoop
another cup of water
binding me to earth

water kept cool underground
safe from the sun relentless
shaded from the heat

safe from the sun's harsh blaze
wish I was one with water
wish that I could hide

Persimmon Flower

a persimmon flower

holds the promise of autumn

solace from the heat

a persimmon flower
yellow petals and green leaves
floats on the surface

holds the promise of autumn
but what does autumn promise
but solace from heat

solace from the heat
the best that I can hope for
in this weary life

Yosa Buson & Cie

Image by Couleur from Pixabay

The Peach

solstice splits

between the peach halves

a red stone sun

Solstice Splits

solstice splits

lovely flowers everywhere

unrelenting sun

solstice splits

beautiful harvest promised

nothing guaranteed

lovely flowers everywhere

I wish I could be happy

but nothing changes

unrelenting sun

beats down on another year

desiccating hope

Between the Peach Halves

between the peach halves

the promise of a future

more peaches next year

between the peach halves

the promise of a new tree

providing its shade

the promise of a future

but there are no guarantees

some win and some lose

more peaches next year

a momentary sweetness

in life hard and dry

Red Stone Sun

a red stone sun

holding the promise of life

within its hard shell

a red stone sun

color without warmth or light

shining nonetheless

holding the promise of life

promises not always kept

dreams don't always thrive

within its hard shell

sits the seed of tomorrow

yet unrealized

Jane & Cie

Notes:

Why do one or the other when you can do both?

Why kill when you can overkill?

The "sleigh" for the first Troiku Hineri was created by Yosa Buson (1716-1784).

The "sleigh" for the second Troiku Hineri was created by Jane Reichhold (1937 -2016).

All Horses of the Apocalypse are my own undoing.