Sweet phalaenopsis
blooming for a second flush
bringing me a smile
Come away with the raggle taggle gypsy-o
Julia’s first prompt for 2014 is, the path ahead . . . Very timely don’t you think?
Here is my entry, a lazy poem of exactly one hundred words.
Ancestral Path
The path ahead carries the imprint of the ancestors,
wide, red and littered with rocks.
There are many diversions squeezing through tunnels
narrow tracks, and sinking sand.
The path ahead carries the footprints of my ancestors,
who crawled on their knees, jumped for joy,
and stood up for justice
on their journeys through time.
The path ahead is bleached
like the bones of the mothers,
stained with the blood of the warriors,
and flooded with the tears of the children.
The path ahead climbs through forgiveness to freedom
meandering green to air, fresh and sustaining,
to nurture my infinite descendents.
Join in with Julia’s 100WCGU at http://jfb57.wordpress.com/2013/12/30/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week-4/
And day five, I’ve made it to the end of the challenge. To be honest I’ve really enjoyed it and I think I’m getting addicted! Here is my last attempt.
Future Swathe
Surrounded by vine
seat bound and tightly entwined
overwhelming growth
You can do all five days in one if you want! http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/11/25/challenge-haiku/
Day three of the five day Haiku challenge from Krista at the Daily Post. Here is the photo I used for inspiration.
Next Generation
Red heart full of seeds
burst spread your bounty and then
disintegrate
There’s still time to join in because you can post five days in one if you like!
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/11/25/challenge-haiku/comment-page-3/#comment-271080
Krista over at The Daily Post says,
In the words of Ray Bradbury, “Just write every day of your life…”. Your mission is to write five haikus — one for each of the five days leading up to this Friday when we will choose some entries and feature them on Freshly Pressed.
Of course, you can modify this challenge to suit your needs — you can write two haikus one day and three the next, or five all in one day, or one haiku every day from today through Friday — the choice is entirely up to you. If haikus don’t inspire you, you’re welcome to write a paragraph of prose instead. As always, the challenges are meant to be malleable so that they suit your needs.
While traditional haikus tend to focus on things found in nature — anything goes for this haiku challenge. You can write haikus about your dog, your house, your cat, your great aunt Tilly — anything that captures your muse. The object is to try a new form and put some variety into your writing projects.’
I really like this challenge. As some of you know I regularly write a Lazy Poets Haiku, Tanka or poem on Thursdays and I always use one of my own photos as inspiration. I really am a lazy poet, an undisciplined dabbler, so the Japanese short forms really appeal to me. From now until Friday I will attempt to match a haiku to a photo, here is day one.
Tutu’d white ladies
will you dance in the forest
glowing pas de deux
To join in or read some more polished work, http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/11/25/challenge-haiku/
Threshold
Gate do you lead out or enclose?
climb steps through the overgrown green
close in for winter in the underworld
hide behind bars wrought and curved
like a rusty shepherds crook
then cross the threshold to who knows where
a return to joy, trust the rock hewn pathway
a final look and then turn your back on loss
Gate do you enclose or lead out?
across the fields to the river’s torrent
stride to the estuary panorama
always wondering about the opposite shore
somewhere over there west of the river
south of the channel south of land fall
and twenty degrees west joy will be found
forge ahead travel forward with purpose
to distant horizons hot and dry
wander like a gypsy-o swaying to the future
trusting the uncertain pathway
Twin Seat
Reminiscent of medieval windows
In repose against an ancient wall
Twinned seats in iron wrought
Languishing until the return of spring
To warm and settle the metal
Into a welcoming retreat
Until then you chill the cheeks
Of any brave or foolish souls
Who linger in the sleeping garden
Unblessed by loves gentle glow