Silent falls the snow
like a white velvet embrace
over all the land
Showing posts with label Haiku. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Haiku. Show all posts
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Friday, November 7, 2008
More Haiku
I sat in the park yesterday and composed this.
Dry rustle on wind
seagull cries over water
mindful, peaceful day
I gazed beyond the park to see a church on the horizon.
Spire rises to sky
At a distance still it makes
Hearts soar heavenward
All of this from my sturdy stone bench, where so many people must have sat over the years.
Stone benches in park
Look out over still, calm lake
What truths they must know
And finally, I looked down, and was hit by a blinding truth of my own - on this beautiful afternoon, all the world was in harmony except my socks.
Nature's rich palette
Except one mis-taken pair
of jarring blue socks
Not all haiku's need to be serious!
Dry rustle on wind
seagull cries over water
mindful, peaceful day
I gazed beyond the park to see a church on the horizon.
Spire rises to sky
At a distance still it makes
Hearts soar heavenward
All of this from my sturdy stone bench, where so many people must have sat over the years.
Stone benches in park
Look out over still, calm lake
What truths they must know
And finally, I looked down, and was hit by a blinding truth of my own - on this beautiful afternoon, all the world was in harmony except my socks.
Nature's rich palette
Except one mis-taken pair
of jarring blue socks
Not all haiku's need to be serious!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Of politics and barnyards
Woo-hoo - a double header today!
Of Politics
Barack Obama won the US Presidential election last night in an election that was both more tedious (so long) and yet way more exciting and relevant than the recent Canadian fiasco. Although I’m not American, it’s hard not to follow what’s going on in what is arguably the most powerful country in the world, so I wasn’t too surprised to hear the results this morning.
Good for Obama. (As an aside - I was also very impressed with the gracious and forward-looking speech McCain made in the wake of his defeat.)
Obviously I can’t speak for most Canadians, but as a Canadian, I feel the democrats in general, and Obama in particular, are a lot closer to our ideal of a politician. In fact, at this point, I think he’s probably closer to the Canadian ideal than is our current Canadian Prime Minister – and that’s saying something. For the first time ever, I’m more excited about US politics than the plodding politics of our own country, which seem sad and weary at both ends of the political spectrum.
Haiku for Canadian Politics 2008
No vision, no spark
To fire up our people’s hearts
And move us forward
Of Barnyards
Anyhow, that’s all the time I have for politics today – much more pressing things to think about…like how the sheep escaped this morning, which meant I had to chase them across the fields (wearing rather unsuitable shoes, I might add) and back into our meadow. More to the point, why would they escape?
I know it’s a classic case of the grass always being greener, but all the green grass, not to mention their hay and water, was on this side of the fence, and all that was on that side of the fence were old combined stalks of nothing. What were you thinking? I shouted at them, as I stumbled after them wishing (not for the first time) that we had a sheepdog and not a lazy Labrador who I knew had seen us leave and was most likely curled up on the sofa or one of the kids beds.
But the sheep just gazed back unblinking at me.
Of Politics
Barack Obama won the US Presidential election last night in an election that was both more tedious (so long) and yet way more exciting and relevant than the recent Canadian fiasco. Although I’m not American, it’s hard not to follow what’s going on in what is arguably the most powerful country in the world, so I wasn’t too surprised to hear the results this morning.
Good for Obama. (As an aside - I was also very impressed with the gracious and forward-looking speech McCain made in the wake of his defeat.)
Obviously I can’t speak for most Canadians, but as a Canadian, I feel the democrats in general, and Obama in particular, are a lot closer to our ideal of a politician. In fact, at this point, I think he’s probably closer to the Canadian ideal than is our current Canadian Prime Minister – and that’s saying something. For the first time ever, I’m more excited about US politics than the plodding politics of our own country, which seem sad and weary at both ends of the political spectrum.
Haiku for Canadian Politics 2008
No vision, no spark
To fire up our people’s hearts
And move us forward
Of Barnyards
Anyhow, that’s all the time I have for politics today – much more pressing things to think about…like how the sheep escaped this morning, which meant I had to chase them across the fields (wearing rather unsuitable shoes, I might add) and back into our meadow. More to the point, why would they escape?
I know it’s a classic case of the grass always being greener, but all the green grass, not to mention their hay and water, was on this side of the fence, and all that was on that side of the fence were old combined stalks of nothing. What were you thinking? I shouted at them, as I stumbled after them wishing (not for the first time) that we had a sheepdog and not a lazy Labrador who I knew had seen us leave and was most likely curled up on the sofa or one of the kids beds.
But the sheep just gazed back unblinking at me.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Haiku
We are all busy. Life is busy. Especially life with young children. But my friend Melissa shared with us one of the things she's been doing recently to put herself in the moment.
Haiku.
She claims it grounds her, makes her aware of a small moment in time, and I was so inspired I could hardly wait to try it.
She told us at a book club meeting, and when I got home to find my husband fast asleep (well, it was almost midnight), I immediately composed my first of a series.
He sleeps in darkness
Awaiting the late return
Of me, his sweetheart.
That felt good. Creative even. And simple (which is the true beauty of Haiku). I tried it again on the weekend, putting aside my book to watch the kids jumping in a pile of raked leaves
Coppery leaves snap
Voices echo on the wind
Racing, laughing joy
And thought I'd make one up for school council tonight:
Parents heed the call
Look to what the future brings
To our children's school
And finally, a haiku about the power of haiku, and what it means to me:
Timeless moment caught
And gilded like a frozen
Snowflake in a frame
It's addictive, actually. And simple but not easy to find the right words. But Melissa was right - it does make you aware of the moment, and I really liked that.
Haiku.
She claims it grounds her, makes her aware of a small moment in time, and I was so inspired I could hardly wait to try it.
She told us at a book club meeting, and when I got home to find my husband fast asleep (well, it was almost midnight), I immediately composed my first of a series.
He sleeps in darkness
Awaiting the late return
Of me, his sweetheart.
That felt good. Creative even. And simple (which is the true beauty of Haiku). I tried it again on the weekend, putting aside my book to watch the kids jumping in a pile of raked leaves
Coppery leaves snap
Voices echo on the wind
Racing, laughing joy
And thought I'd make one up for school council tonight:
Parents heed the call
Look to what the future brings
To our children's school
And finally, a haiku about the power of haiku, and what it means to me:
Timeless moment caught
And gilded like a frozen
Snowflake in a frame
It's addictive, actually. And simple but not easy to find the right words. But Melissa was right - it does make you aware of the moment, and I really liked that.
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