white feather

Carpe Diem Special #184 Ese's fifth "still beautiful"

left behind
in the frozen pond
white feather

© Ese

that smile
through tears of grief
remembered

©  petra domina

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI

in the hush

Carpe Diem #869 Tavn Bogd

Credits: Tavn Bogd (Five Mountains)

 [...] "We started climbing one of the dunes, and as we proceeded the noise grew more intense and the wind stronger. When we reached the top, we could see the mountains standing out clearly to the south and the gigantic plain stretching out all around us." [...] ()

 mountain-s-peak

in the hush between

life and death

©  petra domina

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI

paradox

Carpe Diem Haiku Writing Techniques #20 Paradox

waiting room
a patch of sunlight
wears out the chairs

© Jane Reichhold

sunny smile

youthful gleam in the eyes

the aged woman

©  petra domina

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI

reading nature

Carpe Diem #865 torn apart book (reading nature)

Inspirational post is here.

yellow meadow

starts to become green again

spring is coming

© Chèvrefeuille

cloud of green

along horizon's edge

hail stones near

©  petra domina

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI

inevitable

Carpe Diem Special #183 Ese's fourth "inevitable"

inevitable
the dance of a falling leaf
with a snowflake

© Ese

To read more of Ese's final Wordpress blog, click here.

tumbling leaves
carry summer dreams
away

© petra domina

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI

juniper

Carpe Diem #864 Juniper

sweat drips from nose

juniper flame paints visions

in the smoke filled hut

juniper perfume

speaks of winter's beauty

wise ones gather

©  petra domina

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI

sisters

All life supports are being removed from my oldest nephew as I begin this post.  He is 59.  My oldest sister is by his side, alone.  She chose to not let anyone fly down to be with her on the return trip back to Dallas from Houston.  That was before he took another 'bad turn'.  Now he is too weak to make the flight back to Dallas.  The text messages from the sisters are constant.  She knows we are with her in spirit as she watches her first born slip away from this life.  And he is gone...

willowy sisters

limbs entwined, stand together

one weeping

Confederation Terrace, Deep River, Ontario, 7-28-2015

Generations

Momma was the oldest of Grandad's second family.  After four sons, Grandad's first wife died during the birth of a baby girl who, also, died.  A few years later Grandad and Granny met, married and Momma was born a year later.  Two more boys were born and then the family was complete when Momma's baby sister was born.  These two sisters were bound to spend their lives closely entwined.

Holidays, vacations and weekends were spent together even as their families grew from children to grandchildren to great and even great-great-grandchildren.  Last year was our first Christmas without the sisters holding court over the affair.  Momma sat in lonely vigil occasionally noting to whomever was near, "I sure miss Opal."  Five weeks later Momma was again with her sister in the same graveyard.

The past few days have been a flurry of activities with my younger sister's family.  Her three children gathered at our son's home to have an early celebration of Thanksgiving.  Sister's oldest was in Austin for additional training for his job back in New Orleans.  Her youngest son lives in Austin while my family lives in a nearby suburb.  So Sis, husband, daughter, son in law and three grandchildren made the trek for an extended weekend of festivities.  Yesterday was the last of the activities with a full blown Thanksgiving dinner.

Ages ranged from 14 months to 14 years for the grandchildren.  The night before Sister's four year old redheaded granddaughter convinced the big guys to play duck duck goose goose on our grandsons' trampoline.  Sister's six year old grandson and our nine year old grandson spent hours playing video games, dressing as super heroes and just being boys together.  My three older grandsons alternated between watching football with the 'grown-ups' to video games with the younger ones. 

There was  more duck-duck, goose-goose games with the blue eyed redhead charmer.  The 14 month old boy just kept us all on our toes as he is an adventurer!  Our 15 yr old granddaughter was not available as she was at a soccer tournament about a 100 miles away.  DJ the 8 month old boxer pup even got in on all the action creating chaos like knocking a half eaten cherry pie to the floor ; )

Following yesterday's meal Sis and I settled next to each other at the kitchen table.  I noticed we both had smiles on our faces as we watched our husbands, children and grandchildren interacting together.  Slowly I realized we were now the sisters holding watch over the families.  I brought this to her attention and we both teared up at the thought.  And then we smiled as we realized the legacy of love lives on into the next generations.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100:4-5 NIV

Momma and Aunt Opal enjoying watching Santa call out the names from the 'good' list for presents.

Joining in Monday WRites 39

hosted by Gillena at Verses

distillation in Black Lake

Carpe Diem #863 Black Lake (Khar Us)

Today's challenge is to condense the following into a haiku:

Looking at mountains, I feel I am a mountain.
Looking at mist and haze, I feel I am a cloud.
After the rain has fallen, I feel that I am grass, and
When sparrows start to sing, I remember I am morning.

       I am not a human, that’s for sure.

When stars flare up, I feel I am the darkness
When girls shed their clothes, I remember I am spring
When I smell the desire of everybody in this world,
I realize how my quiet heart is a fish’s.

       I am not a human, that’s for sure.

Under the colorful sky, an immense EMPTINESS
Starting from today I am only… 

composer:  Mongolian poet, L. Olziitogs

reaching up

stretching my leafy fingers

reclaiming my earth

©  petra domina

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI

Vista

Carpe Diem #862 Vistas

distant eagle calls

mountain valley mushrooms

felt lined gers

©  petra domina

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI

Sacred Stones

Carpe Diem #861 Sacred Stones (Ovoo)

A lover of stones, the stuff of creation, she marvels at the stone's individual character. Some smoothed by ancient glaciers, other still jagged from eruptions or landslides.  All stacked ...

formations

along life's travels

blessed

©  petra domina (the rock lady)

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI

above - below

Carpe Diem Haiku Writing Techniques #19 as is above; as below

an angle of geese

snuggling under the warmth

goose down comfort

©  petra domina 
 

This is an attempt to write a haiku that "the first line and the third line exhibit a connectedness or a completeness.  Hmmm.  Not sure if I did it so let's look at what the masters have written.


rain
the horse's head bowed
straight down

© Jane Reichhold

snow on snow
this night in December
a full moon 

© Basho (Tr. Jane Reichhold)

Basho was staying with the rice merchant Tokoku in Nagoya, two members of the renga group had a grave difference of opinion. Basho, as acknowledged leader, was in charge of easing the tension. The message seems to be that radiance is everywhere. In my opinion a "real" case of "as is above; as below".

steel blue night
the old pond ripples in the breeze
mirrored full moon

© Chèvrefeuille

colored leaves
struggling with the wind
dance through the street

© Chèvrefeuille

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI

in the darkest hour

Carpe Diem Special #182 Ese's third "in the darkest hour "

in the darkest hour
wishing upon the morning star
just like years ago

© Ese of Ese’s Voice

Ese's haiku was inspired by this haiku by Kala Ramesh.

morning prayers
the rising sun between
my hands

© Kala Ramesh

a veil of prayer
rises before morning light
tearful .. praise

©  petra domina 

Grey haired lady has spent the last several years caring for her first born son.  First it was simply sharing a home with him pulling part of the load.  Eventually lifestyle choices caught up with him and sickness ensued.  Hospitalized on and off for weeks at a time he is rushed to ICU.  Told twice he probably would not make it.  Today she was told he has been approved for transplants.  Tomorrow he will be med-evacted over 200 miles to the transplant center. He will be in ICU to wait for a donor.  She will follow in a few days, sitting in vigil for someone else's loss.

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI

cosmic order

Carpe Diem #860 Cosmic Order

Full inspiration post is available here.

one with the Cosmos
a nature loving family
of haiku poets

© Chèvrefeuille

the cry of an eagle
resonates through the Altai Mountains
like a prayer

© Chèvrefeuille

Credits: Festival of the Golden Eagle (Altai Mountains)

circle of life
seasons come and go ... always
the Cosmos leads us

© Chèvrefeuille

deep silence
I bow my head in adoration
snowflakes fall

© Chèvrefeuille

The creator and host of our poetry family has once again set a high mark in the previous beauties.  To be so immersed in nature as to be one with the cosmos is reflected in Chèvrefeuille's poetry.  It can be a challenge to be connected to nature living in a small city in an apartment complex.  The physics of the cosmos are needed to hold buildings together.  The bed of an ancient sea is the foundation of the building.  Limestone made of the skeletal remains of the marine life in those long ago seas.  The same limestone that covers the exteriors of century old buildings as well as the modern homes.  Ancient fishes protecting and upholding our families.

wriggling
in the shallows
a future


      wriggling
      earthworms
      recycling

      in the shallows
      the elk trumpets his passion
      eagle takes flight

      a future
      island erupts
      magnificently

©  petra domina

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI

the silk road

Carpe Diem #859 The Silk Road

Variants of the Silk Road and some products traded

cinnamon
lingers on the smiling lips
steeping tea

©  petra domina

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI

songs

Carpe Diem #858 Throat Songs of the Steppes

voices

sing song's perfect pitch

brook's babbling

©  petra domina

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI

Shaman Haiku

Carpe Diem Extra #40 Shaman Haiku

breath

taken for granted

intake of life

©  petra domina

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI

The Kobzy

Carpe Diem #857 The Kobyz or Kyl-kobyz

tumbling rock slides

echoing off canyon walls

drums rumble

©  petra domina

Thanks to Hamish Gunn for this prompt on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI

shepherdess

Carpe Diem #856 Shepherds

Due to being away from my laptop for several days over the last couple of weeks, I have missed so many challenges.  In order to continue my education in the writing of haiku I shall attempt to 'catch up'.  Here is my attempt to catch the tone of the inspiration haiku.

walking through the mountains
they watch their sheep with love
thanking the Altai spirits

© Chèvrefeuille


the shepherdess
tending her little flock
calling each by name

naughty goats
breaching the pasture fence
shepherdess calling

hooves
run toward the sound
dinner bucket clang

Okay, I took off in a different direction cause I follow a blogger over at Eden Hills.  Teresa has a small herd of goats.  The stories of her adventures in her life on the farm are a delight.

gentle shepherdess
milks the nanny goat
kids at play

©  petra domina

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI

raindrops on bamboo

Carpe Diem Tan Renga Challenge #99 raindrops on bamboo

raindrops on bamboo
shimmer in the sunlight
little diamonds                                   © Chèvrefeuille 

shaken by a padded foot

resplendent fur adorned                     ©  petra domina

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI

no longer

no longer distracted
by the over growth of green leaves,
grasses of the fields, and showy flowers
the bark shines forth with beauty.
textures, cracks, crannies covered
with a slight bit of mossy softness.
gleaming with highlights only an
autumn sunset can paint.

the fallen leaves skirting the trunk
ruffling applause to the mighty tree
thankful for a season spent in union
of spirit and sense.  each feeding the
other in a continual cycle .. forever.
sap to limb to leaf to compost ...
separate no longer

Meadow

Carpe Diem #855 Meadow(s)

morning mist

sun pulls skyward

bridal veil lifts

©  Janice 'petra domina' Adcock

Dryer's Bay area, Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, Canada, 8/2/2015

 Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI

Hard

What is hard?  In your life, what is hard?  Watching the news with the daily loss of life due to hate.  That is hard.  The aches and pains of old age is hard.  In youth the eternal angst of growing up is hard.  Diamonds and granite are hard.  Persons with depression find just functioning to be hard.  Parenting is hard.  Studying is hard.

The last several months our family has watched the oldest nephew endure the results of his life choices.  He is in end stage liver disease.  On November 5 he was moved to an ICU room.  He remains there in 'stable critical' condition.  The previous week he and his mother, my 79 year old sister, had spent 6 days going through the rigors of testing.  Eighteen appointments in five days to determine if he qualified for a liver transplant.

By November 9 his kidneys along with the liver had stopped functioning.  Valiant efforts are being made from intubation, dialysis and induced paralysis to keep him alive for the liver and now kidney transplants.  My sister, who is his primary caregiver, has been on a roller coaster emotional ride.  Twice she has been told no hope.  One last test showed continued brain function.  So his battle continues as he seems to be able to hear and feel.

In a lifetime one stands bedside as elderly loved ones moved toward death.  Watched the monitor become a flat line.  Watched respiration cease.  Even watched as the code team gave CPR to my husband.  That was terrifying.  The battle my sister and her son are fighting is being harder due to the length of time.  The uncertainty of the outcome of even a transplant process.  And the waiting.  His sister, brother, daughter and son join his mother and an aunt in the waiting.  The long, seemingly endless waiting.  That is hard......

diamonds

polished to perfection

shining glory

 

maple leaf

Carpe Diem Special #181 "a maple leaf" Ese's second haiku

Inspiration:

a maple leaf-
I search for life line
in my palm

© Ese of Ese’s Voice

confetti piles
lining the street gutter
leaves sweet sap

©  petra domina

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI

 

volcano

Carpe Diem #850 Tsengel (volcano)

Yellowstone National Park in the USA is the result of a gigantic volcano.  It may once again erupt with cataclysmic possibilities.  Until then the primordial beauty of the area is breathtaking.  A visit to the park can be a spiritual journey.  To see the spewing, hot waters produced by the molten lava below the surface is a reminder.  A reminder of the frailty and mystery of this orb we call earth.  A dynamic organism in constant change. We humans are part of the organism just as fishes, birds and ants.

magma

churning waters

shamans of change

©  petra domina

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI

yaks

Carpe Diem #849 Yaks

The following is from Wikipedia:

"Physiology

Yak physiology is well adapted to high altitudes, having larger lungs and heart than cattle found at lower altitudes, as well as greater capacity for transporting oxygen through their blood[13] due to the persistence of foetal haemoglobin throughout life.[14] Conversely, yaks do not thrive at lower altitudes,[15] and begin to suffer from heat exhaustion above about 15 °C (59 °F). Further adaptations to the cold include a thick layer of subcutaneous fat, and an almost complete lack of functional sweat glands.[13]

Compared with domestic cattle, the rumen of yaks is unusually large, relative to the omasum.[citation needed] This likely allows them to consume greater quantities of low-quality food at a time, and to ferment it longer so as to extract more nutrients.[13] Yak consume the equivalent of 1% of their body weight daily while cattle require 3% to maintain condition.[citation needed]

Odour[edit]

Contrary to popular belief, yak and their manure have little to no detectable odour[16] when maintained appropriately in pastures or paddocks with adequate access to forage and water. Yak's wool is naturally odour resistant."

The above description of the yak sounds appealing.  Really like the no odor part.  The animal is beautiful in a majestic way.  It will only eat grass and not seeds so it is difficult to take on long trips.  That is okay as I do not think I will be travelling by Yak in the near future.

A yak is not an animal that I have ever seen except in photos.  If one looks at the primal astrology characteristics of yaks, well, I have met a fair share.  The folks born in late April to late May see the world in black and white, will not take no for an answer, not compromising, focus on the future, and much more. Click here to read more of the traits.  Yes, there are folks like that.

a gentle being

gazing across alpine grass

stands steadfastly

©  petra domina

  Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI

But I just cannot resist connecting to this .....................................

frosted grass

Carpe Diem #848 Frosted Grass

New month and new prompts for our haiku group.  We will be reading a book, The Zahir by Paulo Coelho.  Looks like fun even though I an too late to enter this particular post, I shall still go forward.  The Altai Mountains will be a one of the characters in this book.  It is noted the mountains are clothed in winter much of the year.

Excerpt from our host's post:

early morning sunlight

frosted grass around the yurt

puffs of breath

© Chèvrefeuille

And another one also inspired on this first prompt of our new Carpe Diem month: 

hoarfrost on the grass

melts in the early sunlight

life passes

© Chèvrefeuille

crystal dreams

melting into the earth

one last breath

©  Janice 'petra domina' Adcock

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI

The Little Red Dot

There are two blogs I use for an outlet.  The first one is this Google owned blogger, a blog publishing service.  The second is on the Wordpress blog service.  I have not summoned the courage desire to develop my own domain.  Maybe it is because of the little red dot.  If you are on blogger you may be familiar with the red circle in the upper right of the google browser screen.  I am addicted to seeing the circle turn red.

Yes, this is my addiction, the Little Red Dot.  Why am I addicted?  The reason is pretty simple.  It is a notification of comments made by visitors.  It also notifies of bloggers I follow through Google + that have a new post to read.  So I read the comments left by visitors.  I visit other blogs and leave comments.  This is the community of encouragement in the cyber world.  This is one of the main sources of encouragement for my writing.

The Red Dot is there waiting for me to click.  Then I revel in reading the encouraging words.  Or the words of helpful critics.  All the words are for continued and improved writing.  Reading the other blogs, also, are forms of encouragement.  Encouragement in new forms of writing.  In introduction to different styles and types or poetry.  Of course the photography blogs give new standards to achieve.

Probably the greatest encouragement comes from finding so many nice folks sharing their talents, thoughts and surroundings.  Bloggers all over the world sharing in common interests.  People reaching out to each other through their words and photos.  Bloggers becoming cyber friends and then meeting face to face to share one another's cultural.  In a world where news cycles attempt to give the worst face to 'others' a click on the Red Dot brings a world of encouragement.

Be sure to go over to The Spin Cycle to give some encouragement by reading the posts.

Thanks to The Spin Cycle Host Ginny Marie

Monday Moods

This beautiful Monday morning started with a heavy fog in our area.  Since we have 'fallen back' to non daylight savings time the sun is behind the adjacent building by 9:15 AM.  The remainder of the day will be lived in shadows.  Shadows are good for my husband as he is challenged by sun damaged skin.

As with many of my retirement days, morning begins with a cup of hot beverage, some fruit and a bowl of cereal.  Plopping down on the sofa, I pickup my laptop and begin checking blogs and social media.  Beautiful poetry, macro photography and blogs of subjects from two newly published photo books to math explanations blogs.  Yes, diversity!  Cause I do not want to let my old brain get all shrunk from lack of use!

The fist book review covers Christopher Herwig's Soviet Bus Stops.  According to the article, Herwig traveled about 18,000 miles locating and recording the bus stops.  The photos included in the review are amazing.  The modern designs have such beauty and flow.  In a world that has an app for ordering a cup of coffee at Starbucks, the world surely needs a book about these iconic bus stops.

The second book review covers Carina Hesper's book Like A Pearl In My Hand.  The photos are showing Chinese orphans.  Blind orphans.  The book is printed with thermochromatic ink.  The ink remains black until exposed to heat such as a human hand.  The images of the children appear.  The author hopes to give an experience similar to that of a person with vision disabilities.  A blind person will use their hands to experience another person's features.  Fascinating and so worth the time to read about this project.  Now to convince my family this would be the perfect Christmas gift for me.

To be able to sit on the sofa and read of all these amazing adventures of other humans is a great thing for me.  Stretching my concept of the world in which I live.  Stretching the limits of what a book can be.  Stretching my mind and imagination of the possible.  That seems to be a good way to start a new week.

Submitting to Gillena's Monday WRites