Carpe Diem New Beginnings: Reincarnation Wave

shrouded memories

wash to the shore like a wave

lives unremembered

shrouded memories

creeping up from the dark past

preying on my mind

wash to the shore like a wave

I wish I could float away

forgetting this strife

lives unremembered

hiding in my troubled mind

preparing to spring

~cie~

notes

We were given two Haiku by Jane Reichhold (1937 - 2016) with which to create a "fusion-ku," and from there, to create a Troiku. Here are Jane's Haiku. My "sleigh" is a Senryu rather than a Haiku, but so it goes.

a huge wave

thundering across the beach

my birthday

sky-clad

the new-born comes wrapped

in previous lives

Carpe Diem Weekend Meditation #111 Troiku ... New Beginnings ... Lotus starts to bloom

image source

in deep prayer

eyes closed in devotion -

Lotus starts to bloom

in deep prayer

I can't trust what my mind says

it plays tricks on me

eyes closed in devotion -

trying to change my focus

away from my pain

lotus starts to bloom

is the lotus in my mind

real or illusion?

~truth seeker~

notes

The sleigh of the Troiku was created By Chèvrefeuille. The horses were gingerly handled by someone.

Carpe Diem #1784: Rain at the Crossroads

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soaking wet signpost

I try to read while trudging

through wet pampas grass

soaking wet signpost

water running in my eyes

watercolor rain

I try to read while trudging

always try to do too much

must learn to focus

through wet pampas grass

the signpost just up ahead

slips further away

Santoka Taneda & Cie

Notes:

The assignment today was to take two Haiku by Santoka Taneda (3 December 1882 – 11 October 1940) and turn them into a single Haiku, then turn that Haiku into a Troiku. 

Here are the two original Haiku:

soaking wet

I can’t read the letters

on the signpost

walking through

the bush clover, the pampas grass,

walking on through them

© Santoka Taneda

Carpe Diem Summer Challenge 2019: Shadow

Photographer unknown

I

blue autumn skies

folded into mountains

purple shadow

blue autumn skies

stretching endless before me

skies blue like your eyes

folded into mountains

a felled giant lies sleeping

dreaming of the past

purple shadow

falls over eyes which can't cry

I have seen too much

Jane & Cie

II

such a hot day

my shadow needs to cool down

under the willow

such a hot day

sun beats down unrelenting

upon troubled earth

my shadow needs to cool down

it steals away and leaves me

muscles wracked with pain

under the willow

I find trouble waiting there

in the form of thought

Kyoshi & Cie

Note:

The "sleigh" of the first Troiku was created by Jane Reichhold (1937 - 2016). The "sleigh" of the second Troiku was created by Kyoshi Takahama (1874 - 1958). I wrangled all the horses.

I have chronic, widespread, low-grade pain from fibromyalgia and am constantly hot and easily fatigued due to my various endocrine problems. The summer is not my friend.

Grover and Clem aren't bothered by this weather, seeing as Grover is a ghost and Clem is a mutant Cactus Man, or maybe a Man Cactus.

Visit the Artist

Visit the Artist

Visit Grover and Clem and follow the Grover Hotel renovations at the Good Stuff from Grover blog!

Troiku Challenge 2019: Day 17: Breathing Silence

Image by Radoan Tanvir from Pixabay

alone on the beach

only the cries of seagulls -

breathing silence

alone on the beach

wondering what lies ahead

another sunrise

only the cries of seagulls

if I could understand them

what would they tell me?

breathing silence

trying to calm this feeling

that all is not well

~Chèvrefeuille & Cie~

Notes:

The "sleigh" of this Troiku was created by Chèvrefeuille. The Three Horses of the Apocalypse are my responsibility.

This poem is part of my Seacliffe Series, in reference to my WIP, The Legend of Seacliffe House. These poems focus on the thoughts of my protagonist, Randal Messana, as he finds himself in a strange new situation after rescuing his mother from the brutal Diamantina Lamb and fleeing the cursed Lambswood Manor. The story is primarily a homage to Edgar Allan Poe and it may or may not ever be published. Either way, I hope some of you enjoy the poetry inspired by the tale!

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.

Troiku Challenge 2019: Day 15: Nightingale

Nightingale, giving no f**ks

to listen,

fine not to listen, fine too...

nightingale

to listen

is there anything to hear

even in silence

fine not to listen, fine too...

sometimes withdrawal is best

turning inside now

nightingale

sings not for an audience

only for herself

~Cie & Chiyo-Ni~

Notes:

The sleigh of this sedate Troiku was created by Chiyo-Ni (1703 - 1775). The three surprisingly sedate Horses of the Apocalypse were led here by me.

Chiyo-Ni and the nightingale who is the subject of her poem remind me of a lesson which has been difficult for me to internalize.

Seeking approval from others is always unwise.

Troiku Challenge 2019: Day 14: Pink Sakura Blush

Cherry Blossoms

pink sakura blush  

spring’s kimono falls to earth

silk snatched by a breeze

pink sakura blush

singing song of sakura

many years ago

spring's kimono falls to earth

the young men choose their partners

nobody chose me

silk snatched by a breeze

like a dream that won't come true

drift into the past

Kim & Cie

Notes:

The "sleigh" of this Troiku was created by Kim R. Russell. The Three Dejected Horses of the Apocalypse are my responsibility.

Many of these prompts lately are reminding me of the year when I was in the fourth grade and I learned about Japan. I was a very shy and unpopular child with a terrible overbite, always chosen last for sports teams, and none of the boys wanted to dance with me at the school socials.

Troiku Challenge 2019: Day 13: Fireflies

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steamy night

fireflies

out in the rain

steamy night

near marsh or swamp or wet field

dank, cloying odor

fireflies

once upon a time I thought

they were fairy steeds

out in the rain

sometimes I can remember

belief in magic

Jim & Cie

Notes:

The "sleigh" of this Troiku was created by modern Haiku poet Jim Kacian. The Three Horses of the Apocalypse are to be blamed on me.

I don't believe in magic or much of anything else these days. But sometimes when it rains I can remember how it felt to believe.

Troiku Challenge 2019: Day 12: White Valley Clouds

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after the rain

breathing deeply

white valley clouds

after the rain

not so much rain as spatters

it's still much too hot

breathing deeply

inhale the worry and fear

future uncertain

white valley clouds

seem to smirk at each other

telling lies of rain

Jane & Cie

Notes:

The "sleigh" of this Troiku was created by Jane Reichhold (1937 - 2016). The Three Horses of the Apocalypse are my doing--or possibly undoing.

Troiku Challenge 2019: Day 9: Pink Flowers Bloom

Image by Angela Yuriko Smith from Pixabay

pink flowers in bloom

for the pretty princesses

darling little girls

pink flowers in bloom

pruned and fed fertilizer

twisted and transformed

for the pretty princesses

gifts wrapped in shiny paper

empty box of lies

darling little girls

hide ugly little secrets

not pretty inside

~Cie~

Notes:

A Senryu in honor of little girls who are taught from a young age that our only real worth is in our ability to be pleasing to the eyes and desires of men.

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Troiku Challenge 2019: Day 5: The Aroma of Pine

Pine Tree

the aroma of pine

and the young morning's fresh rain

reach my words

the aroma of pine

in a place long left behind

shadows of what was

and the young morning's fresh rain

cries the tears that I cannot

heart frozen inside

reach my words

but understand not a one

no-one can know me

~Pirate & Cie~

Notes:

The "sleigh" of this Troiku was written by Hamish "Managua" Gunn, aka Pirate. The three (utterly fucking depressing) Horses of the Apocalypse are my creations. Read them and despair. 

I am in rather a bleak mood today. Please, no comments suggesting therapists, drugs, or any of that sort of thing. That shit doesn't work for me. I just have to work my own way out of it.