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Wednesday, December 30, 2015

strolling yesterday

Carpe Diem Special #189 Georgia's 5th strolling yesterday (tanka)


Inspiration:

strolling yesterday
astonished by the pine trees.
they seemed to copy
the heavy rain laden skies
imitating it’s wet lay.

© Georgia (a.k.a. Bastet)

My response:

spotted fawns
dozing beneath a spruce tree
rain laden needles
drip a rhythmic lullaby
breeze gently rocking the boughs

©  Janice 'petra domina' Adcock
Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI






Tuesday, December 29, 2015

full moon

Carpe Diem #886 the journey continues: writing something, the moon clear, harvest moon, loneliness


The Haiku Kai is nearing the end of the journey with Basho on The Narrow Road North.  Our host has provided so many great prompts this month using Basho's works in the travelogue haibun.  Use this link to read the full prompt.

the full moon
playing peek a boo with monk
between rain clouds
smile spread across the white sand
the long willow shadows

©  Janice 'petra domina' Adcock

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI






Oh, man

This weekend will be my nephew's (Mike's) memorial service.  As the time approaches we three sisters are doing what we can to help our oldest sister through this time.  She is neither the first not the last mother to have a child proceed her in death.  That fact does not diminish the pain for my sister.

Nothing further can be done for the two that have passed.  Now is time to care for our sister, remaining nephew and niece, both in their 50's.  Certainly too young to have lost their brother.  But it happens.  Mike's oldest son died in the spring of 2009.  Another sister's daughter in law was killed in a traffic accident about 18 years ago leaving an 18 month old.  One could be angry about the losses.  Fact is that really is part of the grief process.  And death is part of life's journey.

Today I am not angry, depressed or in denial.  I am just very sad for my sister, her children and my deceased nephew's remaining children and grandchildren.  A new year will begin on Friday.  A year without Mike in our lives.  Another year without many of our family in our lives.  Each is thought of and remembered at different times and in different ways.  But this Saturday is the end, a period in the story of Mike.  And we are sad.






a conversation

Hey, Dude!

How's it going for you today?  I can only imagine the sadness you feel as you look at the mess we humans have made.  Repeatedly people, good people, people in line with the purpose of this Creation have set an example of how to live.  We either kill them, mock them or accuse them of being weak.  Worse yet we worship them.  We humans make idols as the only ones that have ever known 'the right way, the only way' to worship.  Then the ultimate insult is to wrap a relationship in nationalism.  I see it in so many religions of the world.

In the beginning were we to worship or just to be friends?  The person that rose up 2000 + years ago that I am most familiar was a Jew.  No where in those teachings do I read anything but love to others.  An appreciation for kind acts.  An appreciation for universal love and acceptance of others as worthy of love.  We humans pervert the words of  'the prophets' to justify killing, wars, hate, judgement and a myriad of acts rooted in hate.

So this morning I am here just to say good morning.  Hope today goes better for all of us.  By that I mean moving toward love of others and a true friendship.  I'll do my very best to have your back.

Your friend,
Petra Domina

Saturday, December 26, 2015

alone

Carpe Diem #885 without you: Stone Mountain, at Yamanaka, from this day on


sickness of soul
stripped of companionship
onward alone
living in the grey shadow
with no trump for life's game

©  Janice 'petra domina' Adcock

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI





mistletoe

Carpe Diem Seven Days Before Christmas 2015 #6 mistletoe


Some folks know how to pervert a nice tradition ....

inviting mistletoe hanging from ... a belt buckle

©  Janice 'petra domina' Adcock

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI






presents

Carpe Diem Seven Days Before Christmas 2015 #4 presents


On Christmas Day time was spent with our son, his family, two friends and their son.  The friends are an anti-religion/atheist and a Buddhist.  We identify as Christians but not the Bible thumping, you gotta believe my way sort of Christians.  Each person needs to find their own way in the ways of faith.  My job is to be a silent witness with my actions. Occasionally answering a direct question.  Others in the group were more conservative in their Christian beliefs.

The subjects of the day ranged from a movie trailer for Zootopia that reminds our son of his father to recipes for Swiss Chard to Christianity and religion.  Throw in some really good sausages, cheeses, olives, nuts, and cocktails and it was a splendid way to spend Christmas.  Oh, there was chocolate, too!

treasures
held steady with golden strings
friends and family
the best gifts come wrapped
with love and laughter 

©  Janice 'petra domina' Adcock

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI






triple challenge

Carpe Diem #885 without you: Stone Mountain, at Yamanaka, from this day on




the scent of early rice

coming in from the right
the Ariso Sea


© Basho (Tr. Jane Reichhold)

scent of roses
drifts in the morning breeze
a Christmas gift

©  Janice 'petra domina' Adcock

the tomb also shakes
my weeping voice is
the autumn wind


© Basho (Tr. Jane Reichhold)

grey ashes
caught by the wind
a mother's grief

©  Janice 'petra domina' Adcock

autumn coolness
each peeling with our hands
melons and eggplant


© Basho (Tr. Jane Reichhold)

red more red
in spite of the indifferent sun
an autumn breeze


© Basho (Tr. Jane Reichhold)

(note: normally the autumn wind was thought of as white)

sun baked leaves
lay a bronzed path
a still autumn day

©  Janice 'petra domina' Adcock

a lovely name
at Little Pines blows
bush clover and thatch reeds
 

© Basho (Tr. Jane Reichhold)


Yellowstone Falls
the pine roots gripping
smells of sulfur

©  Janice 'petra domina' Adcock

how pitiful
under the armored helmet
a cricket


© Basho (Tr. Jane Reichhold)

guts and glory
wind blows across the field
ancient battle sounds

©  Janice 'petra domina' Adcock

seen with my eyes
white chrysanthemums
again I saw them


© Kasugi Issho (1652-1688)

once more
into the pond jumps
the old frog

©  Janice 'petra domina' Adcock

Working on catching up on some of the posts for the Haiku Kai.  You will not find this in the link but the other poets can be found here.

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI






movement

Carpe Diem Haiku Writing Techniques #24 movement (undou)

yeast blooms
kneaded into flour
rising aroma

©  Janice 'petra domina' Adcock

Recently the sisters walked down a memory lane together.  Who knows what started the conversation but there it was, a shared memory.  Driving down Tennessee Street by Finney's Bakery.  A home town bakery that would have a huge bin of mini-loaves at the county fair.  Yes, the free bread was nice but the smell when one drove by the bakery was   ......    heavenly.

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI






the creek

Carpe Diem Special #188 Georgia's 4th, another choka



Bastet’s Choka Experiment: Meditation – Rhyming Choka : 7-6-7-6-5 repeated 3 times…rhymes in couplets until the last line.

Meditation

reflecting, meditating
my thoughts contemplating,
watching the leaves blow around
without hearing a sound
relativity
looked at in simplicity
observing the east and west
there I began my day’s quest
thus I discovered death
with a baby’s breath!
I think babies born today
have just finished dying
from the world that they knew well
living that awful hell
we call being born
then, I saw death everywhere
for which I have no care
leaves and insects, passing days
a simple passing phase
why then should I fear

© Georgia (a.k.a. Bastet, 2013)


the creek

nighttime crossing of the creek
tears trickled down my cheeks
thoughts of those we lost this year
wishing them to be here
crisp air below
midnight moon sets mist aglow
rippling of creek waters
strokes hair of the daughters
memories bittersweet
music from the street
sings of life and days of old
again love story told
forgiveness and sacrifice
never once thinking twice
on the creek does flow

©  Janice 'petra domina' Adcock

It is impossible for me to not tell some of the backstory of this choka.  The weather was unseasonably warm around mid and latter November.  Three groups of the family had gathered for an early US Thanksgiving. During the gathering the temperature had taken a 30 degree F. drop.  On the return ride to our home we always cross over Brushy Creek.  As we approached the creek steam was rising several feet above the waters engulfing the road and bridge.  A beautiful sight in the moonlight.  The muses have been running amok pushing me to write about that night.  I hope they are happy now. 

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI






Peace on Earth

Carpe Diem Seven Days Before Christmas 2015 #7 don't be afraid (meditation)


A splendid post of inspiration can be read by clicking here.

calloused knees
praying mantis on the fence
peace awaits

©  Janice 'petra domina' Adcock

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI






Tuesday, December 22, 2015

a rough sea

Carpe Diem #883 journey through the rough north of Honshu: a rough sea; in one house


the rough sea
flowing toward Sado Isle (*) 

the River of Heaven

© Basho (Tr. Chèvrefeuille)
hard choices
an easy road to
wisteria beauty

©  Janice 'petra domina' Adcock
Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI






Sunday, December 20, 2015

decorations

Carpe Diem's Seven Days Before Christmas 2015 #3 decorations


Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

Seven Days Before Christmas ... we are closing in to Christmas with this third episode of this special "holiday" feature. Christmas is the time of decorating our homes inside and outside so therefore I have chosen for "decorations" as our prompt for this third episode.


Yuletide
decorations and lights
ruby-red and green
despite falling snow
the spring sun returns


© Georgia (2014)
lace of frost
blossoming on windowpanes
winter meadow
© Ese

Christmas decorations
assortment of memories
hung on my tree

© Dolores
++++++++++++++++++


the Light of all  
incandescent
celebrations
©  Janice 'petra domina' Adcock

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI






July

Carpe Diem #882 beneath the stars of the deep north: low tide crossing, July

The following is an excerpt from our host's post:

low tide crossing
the crane’s shank is wetted
with the sea’s coolness


© Basho (Tr. Jane Reichhold)

what delicacy is served
this festival day in Kisagata
that sweet smell

© Sora (tr. Chèvrefeuille)

After lingering in Sakata for several days, I left on a long walk of a hundred and thirty miles to the capital of the province of Kaga. As I looked up at the clouds gathering around the mountains of the Hokuriku road, the thought of the great distance awaiting me almost overwhelmed my heart. Driving myself all the time, however, I entered the province of Echigo through the barrier-gate of Nezu, and arrived at the barrier-gate of Ichiburi in the province of Ecchu. During the nine days I needed for this trip, I could not write very much, what with the heat and moisture, and my old complaint that pestered me immeasurably.

July
ordinarily the sixth night
is not like this


© Basho (Tr. Jane Reichhold)
 

My response:

in the pond
a cow stands cooling
her teats

©  Janice 'petra domina' Adcock

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI






Silent Night


Public school Christmas programs were very common, almost the rule in the Bible Belt states of the US in the previous century.  For compassion toward persons of other faiths and non-believers lawsuits have eliminated these programs.  Now it is a winter programs. This is fine by me.  I do not want others cramming forcing their beliefs on me so why not have that same respect for others?

I digress.  Back to Ms. Thompson's Latin I and II classes of December 1961 and 1962. The last day of school before Christmas break we sang Christmas carols in Latin.  Adeste Fideles was one we sang in church so that was easy.  Silent Night required more thought even though the words were printed on the mimeographed handout.  Bits and pieces of the words come to my mind some 53 years later.  Thank goodness for translators to help fill in the missing parts.

   Silens nox, sacer nox
   Onmes est queis, onmes est lux
   Circum mater et puerem
   Tam tener et mitis
   In somno pacis caelestis
   In somno pacis caelestis

Today's challenge is to distill all the verses of the song Silent Night.

quite night
newborn child shines forth love
peace's hope

©  Janice 'petra domina' Adcock

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI













a hot day's sun


Carpe Diem #881 following Basho into the deep north: Mount Atsumi; a hot day's sun; Kisagata silk tree

We set on our way from Montreal to Toronto where we planned to over night.  We stopped along the way to visit the home town of a long ago work friend.  The small town lay along the banks of the St. Lawrence River.  A little bit of drive around, snapshots of local buildings and the River and we were back on the road.  Within the hour we found ourselves needing some coffee and a snack.  A delightful riverside park in Prescott met all the needs and then some.  

As we pulled into a parking spot two men sat in the next auto listening to the end of one of my husband's preferred Saturday morning NPR programs.  Instant connection.  Checked out the Lighthouse Cafe but they were not open as yet.  We met a mom in the little park selling hot dogs for her son's college expenses.  So why not help a lad and his mom.  The nearby gently sloping grassy area was perfect.  In the shade of the tree, we enjoyed hot dogs and a beautiful view.

saintly river
glides beneath white sails
sun-washed at noon
 
Refreshed we sat out for the day's destination of Toronto.  One of the folks we encountered during the day mentioned a Caribbean Carnival was being held in Toronto.  Later we discovered this in no small affair with roughly 1.2 million visitors for the final parade.  The parade was to be the very next day.  We had not prebooked any type of lodging.....

We arrived in Toronto as first time visitors in a city in the midst of a gigantic party.  Streets were blocked off rendering our trusty GPS to be as lost as we were.  But Husband persevered as we did a drive about in the chaotic city.  The party folks were happy and in costumes.  We just went with the flow of traffic which was basically a snail's pace.  All was well until the need for a salle de détente and food began to make demands on our bodies.  Husband's brave driving and my navigation brought us to a parking spot directly across from a restaurant.  

A delightful meal on the front patio of the restaurant was accompanied by a story filled waiter.  Carnival goers in various attire passed by Bumpkins Restaurant on the way to the main street.  A group of regulars gathered at a nearby table.  Stories and plans were shared within that group.  What a splendid happenstance early evening we spent on the patio.

musical notes
entwined with laughter
'neath the silk tree

By now we were ready for a bed.  In a town with and extra million or so folks.  As with so many that night we were not to find a bed in Toronto.  No problem.  We will simply drive the extra hour and a half to the next destination.  Off toward the setting sun.  In blind faith of finding rest in a comfy bed.  Place after place had the ominous 'no vacancy' sign well lit.  We kept trudging into the night.  Upon arrival in Owen Sound Husband came back to the car with a serious look.  No vacancies within 150 miles.  But the manager did suggest a campground nearby.  

We were traveling in a hybrid Cmax.  Our car was full of all sorts of things none of which included a tent, tarp, sleeping bag nor any of the usual needs for a campground.  After cruising through the campground with no lights as it was 1: AM we picked an available area.  It was only about 5 feet from a tent with a hungry infant.  We did not care.  We needed sleep.  A little rearranging of the stuff in the back area of the hatchback and our seats could be reclined.  A couple of small pillows and we were good.  Well, at least better than nothing.  And we were not far from the restrooms.  This is important for senior citizens.  It was chilly so we turned on the seat heaters for a while.  Finally dug out a couple of wraps to add a little more warmth.

moonlight
filtering through the silk tree
nudging sleepy eyes

Around 3:30 AM we managed to snuggle closer to each other.  At least as close as an auto with a console and gearshift in the center.  By 5:00 AM the creaky old joints were ready to get moving.  We followed the dirt road as it wound its way through the beautiful park.  A stream, ducks, geese and sleepy campers were at every turn.  Such beauty in the early morning light was an ethereal experience.  I would sharing photos but sleeping in the car gave no chance to recharge any of our devices except one phone.

Looking around the small town  and the adjoining countryside was the object of this leg of the journey. What a beautiful experience to watch the sun rise over Georgian Bay.  The pines appearing  black in the dawn horizon.  Any lingering feeling of tiredness faded with each gentle wave lapping against the pebbled shores.

long road north
ends at the edge of glacial waters
a frog jumps in


Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI








Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI



©  Janice 'petra domina' Adcock


Friday, December 18, 2015

Fresh Snow

Carpe Diem Seven Days Before Christmas 2015 #1 fresh snow


Children of warmer climes have been indoctrinated to desire snow at Christmas.  Growing up in one of the warmer climes, shorts were as much a possibility for Christmas Eve as heavy coats.  Then one meets a life mate from a northern clime.  A move ensues and the dream of snow happens.  A covering of snow that is not a dusting and does not melt straight away.  

Snowflakes on windows and windshields become the object of photos.  Heavier, warmer clothing is purchased to enjoy the beauty while sledding with the children.  The pristine white landscape reaching for miles.  As if all had been miraculously purified from above.

a snowflake
drifting slowly earthward
swirls in joy

©  Janice 'petra domina' Adcock

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI






IDYLLIC SPRING

Carpe Diem Special #187 Georgia's 3rd, a haibun "idyllic spring"


IDYLLIC SPRING


Grassy steps led to an over-grown garden. Looking down Janice wondered who had built the walls and indeed, when those stony steps had last been used. The garden full of wild flowers was weed-choked but the sun filtered down invitingly. She began to descend, half-way down the stairs she stopped surprised.
Piercing the silence, a blood-curdling howl. Robin red-breast rises, screeching, into the sky.
She looked down the remaining stairs and saw a large brindled cat stride out from the undergrowth. Tail swishing she realized the hunter had lost his prey.

idyllic spring
among the wildflowers
the hunt continues



© G.s.k. ‘14

With this haibun went a photo by Bjorn Rudberg

How does one even begin to write something as beautiful as Georgia's words.  One does not.  Sometimes the words need no response only a listening ear.  A mind's eye open to the journey over the cobblestone path of words, syllables, and phrases.  A bridge built in one's imagination between author and reader.

in silence
listening
to beauty

©  Janice 'petra domina' Adcock

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI






Wednesday, December 16, 2015

the Deep North

Carpe Diem #880 secrets unveiled of the Deep North: coolness, cloud peaks, not permitted to tell

 

Our host's words:

 Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers, 

We are on the trail with Basho and his companion Sora on our way into the deep north following the story as told by Basho in his famous haibun Oku no Hosomichi (Narrow Road into the Deep North).

Basho was known as the traveling poet and in the last ten years of his life he traveled a lot. Of all his travels he wrote a haibun, but Oku no Hosomichi became the most famous haibun ever. I even think that there is not an other haibun which can reach the quality level of Oku no Hosomichi.

 

Click here to read the full post with an excerpt from Basho's haibun.  


thundering stillness

held within a moment
passions

©  petra domina

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI



divinely common

Carpe Diem Haiku Writing Techniques #23 finding the divine in the common

Our host's inspirational text in part:

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,
Welcome at a new episode of CDHWT. This week I have chosen a nice HWT in which we will explore one of the basic rules of haiku, a deeper spiritual meaning. This episode is titled "finding the divine in the common". In this episode Jane and I are taking you (again) by the hand to improve your haiku writing skills.
This is a technique that seems to happen without conscious control. A writer will make a perfectly ordinary and accurate statement about common things, but due to the combination of images and ideas about them, or between them, a truth will b revealed about the divine. Since we all have various ideas about  what the divine is, two readers of the same haiku may not find the same truth or revelation in it. Here, again, the reader becomes a writer to find a greater truth behind the words. This example from Basho's work may seem fairly clear:

the one thing
that lights my world
a rice gourd

© Basho (Tr. Jane Reichhold)

Perhaps it helps to know that rice was stored in a dried gourd. To keep it away from mice, the gourd was hung from a rafter. Though this was the time before electricity and light bulbs, Basho already had this comparison. Yet there is also a deeper meaning. The rice gourd's golden yellow color not only brightened the dim room, but the rice in it furnished the energy to maintain his body while endeavoring to reach the goal of enlightenment. One can also see this poem as a riddle: "What is the one thing that lights my world?"
My take on the post:

sitting - askew
a battered tin can
world weary
©  petra domina

I do hope you will share in a comment what these words painted to inspire you to 'write'.

Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for daily prompts on 

CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI





Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Busy and Fun Time of The Year

Staying busy these days doing the things we US folks do during a season of holidays.  The majority of my family are Christians with a few agnostics, Buddhists, Jewish and non committal thrown in for good measure.  So we celebrate Christmas with a few of our birthdays, too.  We had our Rogers Family gathering this past weekend.  There were 28 adults and 13 children.  What fun watching the kiddos as Santa brought a sack of toys, one for each child.  Then Santa had the children pass out apples to someone who did not get a gift.

The main course for the gathering was fajitas, enchiladas, beans and cabbage soup.  Dips, chips, seasoned crackers of all sorts, candies, cookies, tarts, cobbler & cakes.  Drinks were everything from Texas sweet tea and soda pops to wines and mixed drinks.  For those who needed it there was a bottle of anti-acids.  The weather was so nice the patio was full of kids and adults alike. 

The grand finale of the day is Dirty Santa.  This is not some sort of naughty gift but rather a sort of snatch and grab.  Before gift madness starts, a tradition begun by my Mom almost 60 years ago, there is the reading of the Christmas story from one of the gospels.  This year Rev. John did the honors.  This solemn time was followed by a time of unwrapping a gift by a person.  Next person could either unwrap another gift or steal a gift.  And that is how the dirty part of Dirty Santa happens.

Two hours later 28 gifts had been opened, stolen and re-stolen.  Only two steals allowed before the item is 'dead' and cannot be stolen again.  Yes lots of fun was had.  Two selfie sticks were deemed "so 2013" to be stolen.  The pocket sized backup chargers for phones were hot items as were the kitchen equipment set.  The back scratcher came back home with us.  As did the penguin cream and sugar set.  And half a cake, some candy, cookies, tarts and a heart full of joy.

My hope for all is that what ever your faith choice may be, you can find joy and peace.  That you can spend time with friends and family.  Your home is warm.  And your wishes come true.

Monday, December 7, 2015

First Christmas

Several years ago, like probably 35 years, the Aurora Community Theater had its Christmas program.  The Theater was in the old Catholic Church.  My son was performing in several of the children's skits.  My husband was, likewise, doing a skit with several other singers.  Singing even remotely on key is not a gift this voice possesses.  Instead a piece of prose was written and performed as a solo performer.

One of the lines of the prose spoke of the changing face of Christmas as our parents, aunts, uncles and cousins left this life.  This is the first year to have no living parent.  Only one beloved aunt and an uncle's wife remain.  One is too frail to come to the family Christmas.  There is even a nephew that passed just before Thanksgiving.  It is being a struggle to get excited about decorating, baking, sending cards pretty much anything that makes one think of the season.  My husband concurred that Christmas without all those wonderful people is, well, just sad.

The family party is this next weekend.  Sweets are to be made this week.  Hope that will make the season feel a little less lonely.  Doing the things that bring to mind the traditions of old.  Decorating, cooking special Christmas goodies, wrapping gifts and finally working on the Christmas cards.

stained paper
familiar handwriting
aromas of love

filling the house
and a lonely heart