Mindlovemisery's Menagerie Photo Challenge 38, Steam

Steam by Nicolas Muray

Dear friends and followers,

Another wonderful inspirational photo at Mindlovemisery's Menagerie. A challenge to write a short poem towards a photo. This week the above photo, by Nicolas Muray, is the source of inspiration. And what a beautiful photo it is.
It looks like old-time pornography ... those colors, the almost nude female in a kind of still pose as if she is frozen in her dance. The shadow of her nude body strong and making her more in balance. Why is the title "steam" ... I really don't know ... I think it's pointing towards the warmth, the ebullience this almost pornographic photo gives it's viewers ... I don't know ... How to write a short poem towards it ... or better ... how to write a haiku towards this photo without losing it's sphere ...

she dances in the shadow
arousing the senses of her viewers -
dark alley theater

© Chèvrefeuille

Hm ... not a great haiku, but in a way in touches the essence of the photo ... I don't know ... what do you think?

See you another time,

Chèvrefeuille

Beauty on the Rocks

Credits: Yoshiyuki Iwase

Dear friends and followers,

Another wonderful photo-challenge at mindlovemisery's menagerie a nice weblog with several challenges hosted by poetry loving people. This weekly photo challenge is hosted by Bastet. She is a great haiku-poet who is part of the Carpe Diem Haiku Kai Family, which I am hosting.

This photo will not be an easy one to write a haiku about, but I have to try it of course.

What do I see? I see the ocean with several rocks or cliffs in it. On one of the rocks I see a nude female. Why is she sitting there on that rock. Will she commit suicide? She looks sad, because of the pose in which she sits. Is she awaiting someone? Is her boyfriend or husband a sailor? What is she doing, feeling, hoping ...

awaiting her lover
who lost his life at sea -
heaven awaits her

© Chèvrefeuille

Well ... see you next time.

Flowers in the snow

Dear friends,

Just a few minutes ago I visited Mindlovemisery's Menagerie to see if there was a nice Photo-Challenge. I was really surprised to see that there was a new Photo Challenge titled "flowers in the snow" and I just had to do this one.
A gorgeous photo of a beautiful rose in the snow ... it triggered me immediately and brought another haiku, which I once wrote, about Tulips in the snow, in mind.

I am confused

winter has departed
snow in april

snow in april
without hesitation flowers bloom
colors between white

colors between white 

such a strange ambiguity
for Mother Earth

for Mother Earth
no doubts at all today
I am confused

© Chèvrefeuille

Tulips in the snow

I just had to share this cascading haiku on Tulips in the snow. Several years ago it was early spring here in The Netherlands and nature was already starting to come alive again. Than suddenly, somewhere around Easter, it started to snow again, it was April than ... the Tulips in my garden were covered with snow ... such a strange sight ... Mother Earth for sure was confused, no doubt about it.

Well ... I hope you did like this post. See you next time ... Namaste.

Passing Through

Credits:lesley-oldaker@Deviant Art

Dear friends and followers,

This week's challenge for mind love misery 's menagerie is a wonderful painting by lesley-oldaker titled "Passing Through"
As I look at this painting ... it makes me sad. It looks like it's raining and people passing each other without looking at each other. They all are in a hurry to go at their home ... the rainy sphere makes me almost depressed ... and that feeling is caught already in the title of this painting "Passing Through".

There is a haiku written by Basho (1644-1694) which also has this feeling hidden in it. It's a not so well known haiku by the master:

Passing through the world
Indeed this is just
Sogi's rain shelter
© Basho (1644-1694)

What does this painted rainy and sad day bring me ... will it inspire me ... let me think it over becoming part of the scene. I feel the rain and the cold. I hear the sound of the rain and the feet of the people around me. Will there be a kind of perfume? I think so, because rain brings always a kind perfume ... the smell of wetted earth, or the sweet perfume of lavender ... I will see the people ... hurrying for home ...

Here is my attempt:

sweet perfume
mingles with the sound of rain -
a dog barks
© Chèvrefeuille

Well ... I hope you did like this post. See you next time.

Starry Night

Magpie Tales 234, Starry Night.

Starry Night by Alex Ruiz

An awesome painting to become inspired and this is what it brought to me ...

one starry night
to make that one painting -
the rustling leaves

© Chėvrefeuille

Well ... i hope you liked this haiku ... see you another time ...

Mindlovemisery's Menagerie, Photo Challenge #22 "seesaw"

Credits: Sarolta Ban

A new photo-challenge is "on" at mindlovemisery's menagerie hosted by Bastet. This time a gorgeous, manipulated, photo by Sarolta Ban. You can see what 'manipulated' means in this photo. Two butterflies on a seesaw. The photo is in black and white, but as I look closer to the butterflies, I think these are Monarch butterflies, very common in a big part of our planet. Here a photo in color of the Monarch butterfly.

Credits: Monarch butterfly

I have written a lot of haiku about butterflies, because I love these fragile creatures. These Monarchs are so colorful ... like a sunlit morning.

Monarchs together
playing above the fields -
children's laughter

children's laughter
resonates through the barley-fields
their new seesaw

their new seesaw
painted in black, white and orange 
like Monarchs

© Chèvrefeuille

Well ... I hope you did like this post .... see you next time ... ariverderci!

To Late for the Ferry

Yell Sound, Shetland, 2014, by R.A.D. Stainforth

A wonderful photo of the Ferry which brings people to the Shetland Islands. The lake ripples in the wind and above the lake clouds are showing their white-grey colour ... it looks like it will going to storm there.
It's in balance and only a thin line of mountains between the sky and the lake. This photo is 'picked' at Magpie Tales (Mag. 233) and the goal is to write a phrase towards the photo or a poem. Well ... I am a haiku -poet so I love to share a haiku inspired on this photo.

to late for the ferry
after a steaming hot summer night
with my paramour

© Chèvrefeuille

to late for the ferry
I seek shelter in the harbour -
mid summer storm

© Chèvrefeuille

Well ... not as strong as I had hoped, but it was a joy to write/compose them. See you another time ...

My Angels

Credits: Sarolta Ban

A new Photo-Challenge at one of my favorite weblogs mindlovemisery's menagerie which I have discovered recently ... they have always a wonderful painting or photo for inspiration and I love to take up this challenge to write a poem, short story or something inspired on the photo. This time the title of this photo "Cardboard Angel" inspired me to write a haibun.

My Angels

I remember him very well, how could I ever forget him? He was the most precious what I had. We were always together and we shared almost everything. He is still around me after almost 20 years. I miss him every day ... sometimes I look at his photo on the wall just right of the TV-set ... framed in a silver frame together with my grandma and our Yorkshire terrier. All are missed ... and they all watch over me and my family.
No Cardboard Angel, but real angels ... I know for sure that he, my brother, my grandma and our Yorkshire are watching over me ... I can sense their presence in so many things ... I can feel them trying to cherish and comfort me as I am sad ... they are my angels ...

no cardboard angels
cherish and comfort me when I am sad,
... real angels do

© Chèvrefeuille

Well ... I hope you did like this post. See you next time.

on my way home

Credits:Julie-de-Waroquier@DeviantArt 

Dear Friends and Followers,

Another wonderful piece of art came along at 'mind, love, misery's menagerie' were you can find every Sunday a awesome picture, painting or photo for inspiration.

This week it has to do with time ... If you follow my daily haiku-meme at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai you certainly have seen and read my post on movement, in which time also plays a role. So I am into time already.

The painting shows us a derailed play-train and the (beautiful) legs of a female dressed in blue. What tells this painting me? As I first saw this painting I thought about the days past when i travelled by train to my work at the VU in Amsterdam, were i worked on the oncology and hematology-unit. Mostly the train was on time, but sometimes the train was to late ... well sh.. happens.

on my way home
my thoughts are running wild -
derailed train

© Chėvrefeuille

Another one, more in the 'time'-sphere:

I missed my train
snow falls softly ... tucking in the world -
she ... dressed in blue

© Chėvrefeuille

Well .... i hope you did like the read ... see you next time ...

I am a Dutch Haiku poet and host of Carpe Diem Haiku Kai.

A First Attempt on a Photo Challenge (#19 "while you were sleeping") by Mindlovemisery's menagerie "seeking for relief"

Credits: Photo by Martin Stranka

Good day dear friends and followers,

Just a few minutes ago I ran into a wonderful Wordpress Weblog called Mindlovemiserys menagerie a wonderful WP-blog and this photo about which this photo challenge is ... asked my attention immediately. I asked myself "What does this photo say to me?" An I tried to answer that question ... A young guy stands on the edge of a canyon. He looks down, he is maybe sad or disappointed in life or in someone. As I looked closer I saw a 'wound' at his heart ... I think this guy has a broken heart, his girl- or boy-friend left him. Is he in an excistential crises? I think he suffers of his lost love and intends to step out of life. This photo gives me the shivers, and a feeling of strong sadness.

The goal of this challenge is to write a poem or a short story inspired on this photo ... so here I go ...

seeking for relief
aching of a broken heart -
love isn 't forever

© Chèvrefeuille

I am a Dutch haiku poet and I have a few weblogs about haiku. Haiku is my passion and it gives me the opportunity to give words to my feelings.

My Dreams Wander

Dear friends and followers,

As you all maybe know I am hosting a daily haiku-meme at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai. This almost gone month July we had all wonderful haiku written by the ''big-five'' (Basho, Chiyo-Ni, Buson, Issa and Shiki). Today (July 31st) I published the last episode of Carpe Diem Haiku Kai of July and that last episode was a haiku by Matsuo Basho (1644-1694). It was his last poem ever, or also called, his death-poem. Here is Basho's death-poem:

ill on a journey
my dreams start to wander
across dessicated fields

© Matsuo Basho (Tr. Chèvrefeuille)

Matsuo Basho (1644-1694)

It's very common in classical  times that poets wrote their death-poem, the last poem of their life. It's however not my intention to write my death-poem already, but I like that custom a lot ... maybe my death-poem will be once carved in my tombstone, but that's not up to me.
How would my death-poem sound? What would it say? I don't know ... it's not my time to pass away ...

My response, my inspired haiku based on Basho's death-poem is the following:

my dreams wander
along the path of my life ...
Honeysuckle blooms

Honeysuckle blooms
sharing her sweet perfume
I dream away

© Chèvrefeuille

Well ... I hope you did like this post .... see you next time ...

Namaste

Buttercups

This haiku is written in response of the Carpe Diem Haiku Kai prompt ''buttercups''. Carpe Diem is a daily haiku-meme and I am hosting it. This month all the prompts are modern kigo (seasonwords) for summer and this month (June) was really a joyfull CDHK month with a lot of nice prompts and wonderful haiku contributed by the visitors and members of CDHK.
CDHK ... feel free to visit and participate. It's a warm and loving haiku-family ....

the day ends
buttercups share their golden light -
the moon rises

© Chèvrefeuille

Credits: Buttercup

Do you like to write and share haiku? Than feel free to visit one of my haiku memes at:

Carpe Diem Haiku Kai, a daily haiku meme

or

Haiku Shuukan, a weekly haiku-meme (every Friday a new prompt)

You are welcome to visit and participate ... feel free ...

Namaste

Haiku Horizons "master"

 

Inspired by the prompt at

 

 

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

 

It's a little time ago that I posted here at Chèvrefeuille's Haiku-blog, my home-weblog, but I think it's time to make this weblog a little bit more active. So therefore I have chosen to write a post in response on Haiku Horizons prompt "master".

I wonder in what kind of sphere I have to place this prompt. Means "master" the teacher or does it mean that you have "mastered" something? Well ... both ways are possible I think, but I will go for the teacher and I am gonna tell you a little bit more about my haiku-master, Matsuo Basho (1644-1694).

Matsuo Basho (1644-1694)

Matsuo Basho (1644-1694) was a haiku master and had several new ideas for writing haiku. One of his ideas was the Kanshicho-style in which he wrote haiku in a different way than we (all) know it.
As we (all) know haiku has three sentences with 5-7-5 syllables, but haiku written in Kanshicho-style were different. The three sentences could count, for example, 6-4-10 syllables or 3-11-5 syllables.
I embraced the Kanshicho-style when I wrote my first English haiku in 2005 and I started my first haiku weblog. The first English haiku I ever wrote was the next one:

 

a lonely flower
my companion
for one night

© Chèvrefeuille

 

Notice the syllable count 6-5-4. In that same year this haiku was translated into several languages, for example, Hindi, Tagalog and Scottish and also in Dutch (my maiden language). At that moment I realized that I could become a well-known International Haiku poet and remained writing my haiku in English.
The years following were with ups and downs, but I remained writing haiku in English, but mostly in Dutch. I also began to translate haiku of other haiku poets into Dutch, French, German and Spanish. As you all should have noticed Basho's my 'role-model' or let me say “Basho is my haiku-master”. Several fellow haiku poets have told me that my haiku are touched by Basho's Spirit. In other words my haiku according to fellow haiku poets, are in the same tone and sphere as Basho's. I am honoured and proud that my fellow haiku-poets compare me with Basho … it makes me just a humble haiku-poet.

Well ... that was the introduction to this Haiku Horizons prompt "master" and here is my haiku inspired on that prompt. I hope that you like it.

watching a snail
in the light of the full moon
just a silver trail

just a silver trail
points me to rhe right place
mountain monastery 

Credits: Snails in the moonlight

mountain monastery
finally becoming one
I bow to my master

I bow to my master
Matsuo Basho told me the way
to watch a snail

© Chèvrefeuille

Well ... I hope you did like this post on "master" and I am looking forward to your comments. Have a great week ... and 'til another time.

Namaste

More: Carpe Diem Haiku Kai

         Haiku Shuukan 

The Flight of the Bumble Bee

Dear readers,

It's a little while ago that I posted here, but ... as you maybe know ... I have a few other weblogs on haiku and those weblogs have my attention because of the daily haiku-meme there. But ... I had to share a post for today's Carpe Diem Special. This month back at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai we have Jack Kerouac as featured haiku-poet for the Specials and today the haiku written by him for inspiration is the following:

early morning gentle rain,
two big bumblebees
humming at their work

© Jack Kerouac

As I was reading that CD-Special again I got an idea ... I thought of a composition by Rimsky Korsakov "The Flight of the Bumblebee" ... here is a video in which a young talented piano-player, Maksim Mrvica, plays this wonderful piece of music. (Video credits by: Philip Caruso)

What a wonderful music and what a piano-player .... awesome. This music inspired me to write the following haiku (I hope) in the same sense, tone and spirit as the one by Jack Kerouac.

Lavender flowers -
bumblebees collecting honey
in the backyard

© Chèvrefeuille

Wow! ... Sorry I like this haiku very much ... it's a strong one and I even think it's in the same tone, sense and spirit as the one by Jack Kerouac (how immodest).
I hope you enjoyed the read and the music ... see you again ....

Namaste,

Chèvrefeuille

Haiku Horizons "sand"

Good day dear friends,

This week's theme at Haiku Horizons is "sand", sand is not that easy to write a haiku about, but I have to try it of course.

footsteps in the sand
now little tiny puddles -
rainstorm of spring

(c) Chèvrefeuille

Waves on the beach

waves roll on the beach
taking sand and seaweed with it
and rolls back

(c) Chèvrefeuille

Well ... I hope you did like these haiku ... maybe I will see you again here or at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai.

Namaste

Shikoku Pilgrimage

Shikoku Island Japan

Good day dear friends,

As you maybe know I have a daily haiku meme at: Carpe Diem Haiku Kai and on that weblog we are now on a pilgrimage along the 88 temples of the Shikoku Temples Trail founded by Kobo Daishi (774-835). Today we are arriving at Temple 38, Kongofukuji, devoted to Senju Kannon the Boddhisatsva of the World, Mother of Humankind, and compassion.

Kongofukuji Temple

in silent prayer
pilgrims kneeling in front of Senju
Om Mani Padme Hum

(c) Chèvrefeuille

Well ... I hope you did like the read and maybe you will visit Carpe Diem Haiku Kai and be part of this pilgrimage yourself. You're welcome to visit and share.

Namaste

My New Weblog Is Launched!

Dear friends,

It's my pleasure to introduce to you my second Carpe Diem Haiku Kai weblog. As you maybe know I started a daily haiku meme in October 2012. At that weblog I give every day a prompt for your inspiration to write haiku, senryu, tanka or kyoka and share it with the world. I also started several Special items for inspiration. For example: "Tanka Shrine", a Special about Tanka or "Distillation" in which item I ask you to distil a haiku from a longer poem.
All those Specials, except the weekly Tan Renga Challenge and the Specials in which I share a haiku from another haiku-poet for your inspiration, I have brought to a new weblog.

That new weblog  titled "Carpe Diem Haiku Kai Special" is online now since January 6th 2014. I love to invite you all to visit that new weblog to read and be inspired to participate if you like haiku and other Japanese poetry forms.

You can find that new weblog at: http://carpediemhaikukaispecial.blogspot.com
and my first Carpe Diem Haiku Kai weblog you can find at: http://chevrefeuillescarpediem.blogspot.com

Feel free to visit and share, if you wish to, your haiku with these haiku-communities. You're welcome.

Namaste

Chèvrefeuille