Thought Prints

Tan Renga Wednesday (5) White Crane Today's challenge from our host at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai is to use the following: "The haiku I (Chèvrefeuille our host) have chosen written by Kikaku is one of his most beautiful haiku in my opinion. He wrote it to comfort Basho in his last days of his life:" how I wish to call a white crane from Fukei, but for this cold rain. © Kikaku yet here is one white quill write away death's dark hold © petra domina Thanks to Chèvrefeuille for his consistent faith in us poets.

Carpe Diem Tan Renga Wednesday (4) crystal dewdrops (hineri / with a twist) distant lightning reflect on storm clouds rainy night delight                             (petra domina) pink morning glory in full bloom covered with crystal dewdrops                         © Chèvrefeuille If you enjoy haiku and other forms of Japanese poetry be sure to visit: CARPE DIEM HAIKU KAI

The morning light shines not on my face.   Clouds cover the sun and will all week.   After months of the drying, high heat  clouds bring more hope than a sunrise.  Northwest to a local hospital about 6.5 miles away if a crow were to fly in that direction. Looking north from the fifth level of the parking garage. A pair of hawks resting on top of the main apartment complex. Clouds to north, reflections to the south.

Carpe Diem #1755 Sheperd's Purse (1st anniversary prompt) Inspiration haiku from our host, Chèvrefeuille, as we begin a month celebrating seven years of the Carpe Diem Haiku Kai . yoku mireba nazuna hana saku kakine kana looking closely: a shepherd’s purse blossoming beneath the hedge © Matsuo Basho (Tr. Barnhill) in the shadow filled with seeds of hope shepherd's purses © petra domina

Carpe Diem #1754 "An Act Of Devotion" ... the pilgrimage ends It was to be the last night before we left for a new pilgrimage.  We would return in two weeks to get his mom to live in a new memory care unit close to our new home.  It was not to follow our humanly plans.  Mom just wanted to go "find Daddy", her name for her husband.  Her son, my husband, had cared for both parents, even retiring early in order to give better care.  His one last act of devotion was to tell his Mom, "It's ok to go on now and go find Daddy."  Her last words were of love.  Then the pain drugs took over her mind.  The next morning as soon as she was moved to the same floor where "Daddy" had passed, she left this world.  We will always believe Daddy had come for her and she had found him. arms of devotion caressing the giver of life last embrace © petra domina

Carpe Diem Weekend Meditation #104 Photo-shopping Haiku "Camellia" (Yosa Buson) Illustrated version of Basho's "Narrow Road Into The Deep North" with haiga by Buson Here is the haiku to "photo-shop": tama-suri-no zayu ni hiraku tsubaki kana Unfolding at the hand of the glass polisher: a camellia! © Buson (1716-1784) Any one who visited my different blogs may be aware that I worked in and around computer graphics for decades.  Once I retired I took on the project of scanning my mother's many photos.  I began using photoshop to repair the damages to photos.  Missing parts, speckles, mildew damage, etc. were removed, added or repaired.  Thirteen years has seen an improvement in my use of the photoshop tools.  Sometimes nothing more than straighten the photo is all that is needed.  Can I improve or slightly adjust Buson's haiku?  We shall see. Unfolding in the hand of the glass polisher: a camellia! Buson & petra domina ...

Carpe Diem #1753 Trail of Saints, Krakow, Poland A modest nun of the Convent of the Sisters of Our  Lady of Mercy, Helena Kowalska (1905–38) source: https://sacrum.visitmalopolska.pl/-/sw-siostra-faustyna-53 Service, commitment, a smile, a cup of food or water.  Rendered in Love with only thoughts of others' needs.  Too tall a task to be taken by most humans.  There are those who give totally, fully, all of self till self disappears and only the seed of love remains. A seed that will grow with the light if goodness. earthly angels hushed footprints of old nudge pilgrims © petra domina Click here for challenge post.

Carpe Diem #1752 Pilgrimage of the Relics, Maastricht (The Netherlands) Growing up in a Protestant faith, relics were not something I encountered.  In my 70th year while visiting Europe for the first time I finally saw them.  I still did not quite see how bones or a cup could have an influence on a person's faith.  As I read today's challenge post I began remembering the effect of standing by the dining tent used by George Washington during the Revolutionary War.  The. Actual.  Tent.  I was moved to tears.  And there it was, enlightenment, understanding. dem bones saintly remains call to faithful © petra domina Relics in Stift Melk Abbey, Austria.  In the heaven on earth room.  April, 2016

Carpe Diem #1751 Lough Derg, Donegal (Ireland) blue haze swirled by spirits voices calling join the walk to peacefulness © petra domina Join Chèvrefeuille and the other poets at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai .  Chèvrefeuille is our host and master guiding us to adventures and learning.  

on summer's eve life ready to burst forth nest of eggs on autumn's wind the smell of decayed leaves angle of geese chill of winter neath the weight of snow sakura bows warm spring kiss leaves and petals unfurled nectar for the queen © petra domina

Carpe Diem Weekend Meditation #89 Extreme Haibun ... rain An extreme haibun is a haibun with prose and poetry together, a kind of symbiosis so to say.  Our host gave the  theme and challenge to create an extreme haibun with a maximum of 100 words including the poems. For this extreme haibun  Chèvrefeuille gave  the theme "RAIN". Create a haibun themed rain and share it with all at our Haiku Kai. ____________________________ In the summer after chores were done my afternoons would be free.  I would lay on my bed with the windows open listening to rock and roll on the radio.  The curtains were purple sheers.  The smell of the approaching rain was so fresh.  Almost heavenly. summer breeze ruffled  priscilla curtains gently flutter summer breeze carries the sound distant thunder priscilla curtain ruffles dreams of prince charming a raindrop kiss gentle flutters young heart fills with hope sweet smell fills the roo...

Carpe Diem #1680 Troiku Month (9) Pink Flowers Bloom Today the CDHK host, Chèvrefeuille, has challenged us to use our own haiku and develop a troiku from it.  Here is his:   pink flowers bloom between green dewy leaves a double peony pink flowers as far as man can see - purple sea between green dewy leaves hides a little green frog for the blue heron a double peony in full bloom in my garden - a dawning sun © Chèvrefeuille ____________________________ free floating  kissed by the autumn breeze a gossamer strand free floating within the milky way stardust kissed by the autumn breeze confetti colored leaves dance squirrel buries a snack a gossamer strand glistening in the sunset angle of geese above © petra domina

Carpe Diem #1681 Troiku Month (10) moonlit night This is the haiku to work with to build a troiku : the wild geese take flight low along the railroad tracks in the moonlit night © Masaoka Shiki _________________________________ the wild geese take flight above the silver threads lonely whistle blows low along the rails fog churned by massive wheels dusty cinders fall in the moonlit night geese honk of sights yet to see © petra domina

Carpe Diem #1679 Troiku Month (8) spiderweb Today troiku challenge from our host,  Chèvrefeuille,   is the following modern haiku: Spiderweb anchored To a tree, a bush, the ground Centered spiral shines © Calvin Olson (2016) ____________________________ Spiderweb anchored swaying gently in the breeze bee escapes            surprised walker            To a tree, a bush, t he ground             escaping the web                                                               Centered spiral shines                           unnoticed by the gnat                           final du...

Carpe Diem #1678 Troiku Month (7) Unlocked Fence unlocked fence walking towards the countryside finally free © Chèvrefeuille Here is the inspiration photo: Unlocked Fence Fences are a hot topic in my nation these days. The subjects of how high, how long and how much it will cost are in the news almost daily.  There is no mention of gates, only the fence. unlocked fence beckons one to come inside clang of gate    walk across the countryside    miles stretch across horizon    sun drains all but hope       finally free?       the child is taken       from parent's arms             © petra domina          

Carpe Diem #1677 Troiku Month (6) Chasing A Fly I need for you to go read the original challenge post to fully appreciate the genius of Chèvrefeuille.  He has been my inspiration and guide in the way of haiku.  Thanks be to Chèvrefeuille. Challenge haiku: chasing a fly in silent meditation mode eyes fixed © Chèvrefeuille ------------------------------------------------ About 4 decades ago we were sitting in a restaurant with my parents and our young son.  Suddenly our son shouts, "There is a fly in my tea".  Rather than allow him to further disturb the entire restaurant, we all shushed him.  But there was no shushing this young man.  In even a louder voice he yells, "No, really, THERE IS A FLY IN MY TEA."  This time I responded I would get him a new glass of tea.  That calmed him.  If only as a mom I had remained calm and addressed the real problem, a fly in his tea, there would have been no further interruptions. chasing...

Carpe Diem #1676 Troiku Month (5) the aroma of pine the aroma of pine and the young morning's fresh rain reach my words © Hamish "Managua" Gunn (Taken from "Shinrin Yoku, the art of forest bathing") the aroma of pine is just not the same from a spray can morn's fresh rain trickles from the trees cleanses the mind reach my words oh, love of my life with fiery bliss © petra domina

Carpe Diem Weekend Meditation #88 Crossroads ... Sea Cliffs The challen ge from our host,  Chèvrefeuille,  is to fuse the following two haiku into one.  Then create a troiku from the fusion.  Here are the two haiku to use for your "fusion-haiku": coming to sea cliffs the off-shore breeze raises a flower fragrance curving with the land a rainbow of clouds moves out to sea © Jane Reichhold (Taken from: "A Dictionary of Haiku", a Modern Saijiki) sea cliffs awash with flower fragrance rainbow mist forms   sea cliffs   rise above the pounding surf   puffin nests      awash      with flower fragrance      humble trellis         rainbow mist forms         papa puffin dives for food         sea cliff nursery             © petra domina Not a puffin 😁

Carpe Diem Weekend Meditation #85 Photo-shopping Haiku (2) Cherry Blossom rejoice! old tree limbs covered cherry blossoms ©  petra domina

Carpe Diem Weekend Meditation #85 Photo-shopping Haiku (2) Cherry Blossom Most of my 'work for pay' life was spent in the field of graphics.  The application was printed circuit boards.  I did some camera work to reduce the old red tape 4:1 images to the actual size.  I ran step and repeat machinery to make layups of the same image multiple times.  I used bifocal microscopes to correct flaws in the artworks.  Exacto knives were used to trim .0005 inch (.00127 cm) off a circuit image to maintain the proper air gap.  Art brushes and pens removed pinholes picked up during imaging.  Later in my career years the work was computerized.  Digital manipulation was much easier.  Mouse clicks and key boards eventually replaced Exacto knives and touch up pens.  In retirement those computer skills are still used daily.  I Photoshop everything from damaged photos to creating one of a kind designs for projects.  Let's see if that s...

Carpe Diem #1666 Tan Renga Challenge Month May 2019 (13) dangling prayer beads prayer beads dangling a harvest moon prayer... mountain home                           © Kobayashi Issa evening mist drifts slowly behind those silent wings        © petra domina

Carpe Diem #1665 Tan Renga Challenge Month May 2019 (12) "special" Basho "Miscanthus bud" Each season has that special something.  Spring brings such beauty and welcome relief from the cold. Summer seems to be a time for water fun, vacation and no school.  Fall brings color, harvest and relief of extreme heat.  Winter seems to bring lots of celebrations and of course cold and the chance of snow.  now then, let's go out to enjoy the snow ... until I slip and fall!                                      © Basho making the best of it snow angels fun                            ©  petra domina

Carpe Diem #1662 Tan Renga Challenge Month May 2019 (9) Watching a Snail I bow to my master Matsuo Basho told me the way to watch a snail © Chèvrefeuille learning from Honeysuckle gentle ways of haiku © petra domina

Carpe Diem #1664 Tan Renga Challenge Month May 2019 (11) Tan Renga Hineri "Only Tracks" Our host,  Chèvrefeuille, gave this assignment: Here is our delayed post as mentioned yesterday. Today I love to challenge you to create a Tan Renga Hineri. That means: I will give you a haiku to work with. You have to add a minimum of three stanza and a maximum of five stanza. You have to create the 2nd stanza, the 3rd stanza (a haiku) and a 4th stanza (two lined). If you are inspired enough than you can add also a fifth stanza (a haiku) and a 6th stanza (two lined). Try to create a "short story" and try to "close the chain" with a "ageku" (closing verse) that refers to the 1st (given) stanza. late summer alone on the beach with only tracks                © Jane Reichhold imprints left on so many shifting grains of sand rocks not a bed for rest death's rattle never ending spirit takes flight in words ocean waves refresh so...

Carpe Diem Weekend Meditation #84 Quest for a new masterpiece "Movement" (Unduo) rivulets winding across the fields oceans' journeys © petra domina. rain cutting gullies in the fields ocean journey © petra domina.