early laughter-green
grows between a warm change
time never walks past love
it is written in the skies
a heart shaped moon in your eyes
I think of your eyes:
like the winter sea, and shape
my heart by the moon…
sirens wake to crashing waves,
eerie melody haunts me.
heartstrings cut shorter
the distance of your voice
alluring in charm, bliss
will I know, upon some far,
galactic shore, surfing still
nights I write away
damp smudges sealed in bottles:
puckered fish in nets;
the loss is too much to bear,
floating behind hollow eyes.
weaving from afar
is how we travel through dreams–
koi in silver lakes
________________
the darkening sky
carries the promise of rain
with each shade of gray,
the sun shines from the center
of a wounded cottonwood
wrapped around hands,
one finds rings of promise
broken tree bark;
skin wrinkled and creased with age
releases bountiful seeds
buried deep,
seeds take root and stretch,
circling a pond
February snowstorm drips
concentric rings, wheel of life
lonely morning fish
ripples the quiet pond,
breaking sunlight
________________
chasing jackrabbit
tan mongrel trots through sagebrush
following its scent
the seeking can offer more
peace of mind than the finding
cave bear hibernates
two cubs spring from her loins
February birth
cycle of life continues
once again, all life reborn
fresh perspective
between gnarls of trees, sieves of leaves
sunrise meets the lake
________________
heavy snow, strong winds
just last week the smell of spring
winter packs a punch;
thawed dreams of black-eyed susans,
restless thoughts of wanting more.
dreams of longing
tucked under lashes and lips–
words run towards margins,
black and white letters jump off,
mind stops — scrambles to make sense.
following signs (blindly),
racing around cul-de-sacs
the mind, unnerved
reaches for a sense of peace,
silent shelter from the storm.
faint rainbow
storm leaves the sun in its wake
upon the relieved brow;
blue sky streaked with rainwater
prism changes everything.
________________
vernal equinox
morning freshness through the soul
sunburst in our eyes;
New Moon, stars out of hiding
blink across the Milky Way.
tangible yet far,
fantasies pinned on a star
like spilt milk…
crying for what has been lost,
yearning for that yet to come.
________________
dark and overcast
day before the holiday
a lawnmower growls;
clouds perch on the horizon
wanting nothing more than rain
storm clouds tease us
passing through the jeweled trees
on this side of life –
nothing taken for granted
will stay with us very long
cool sun at midday
life is full of suffering –
followed by moonlight
but then comes the promised dawn
when life is full of wonder
________________
black cat sleeps on couch
shadows fall near the full moon
eyes droop with the weight–
these heavy bags
that the heart carries
sun hides behind gray
burdens are what we make them
dark hinges on light
a forty watt sun
brings only hues of comfort –
false hope arises;
100 ways of seeing
the unpaved roads less traveled
on this journey
I collect many sticks and stones–
all for a bonfire
trailing in the wake of stars
yet untouched by human hands
on a stargazer lily–
a mantis praying
to the sun…
is it that I am not worthy
enough to touch the heavens?
winter sun–
snow angels catching
the snowman’s tears;
drops glisten, Icarus wings
doused by the cries of children
________________
opaque midday moon
creates halo above earth
yet darkness falls fast –
what’s lurking in the shadows?
Fear numbs, leaves no time to dwell.
fierce wind starts and stops
returns cold and leaves no doubt:
summer is over;
biting frost wilts the Spirit,
reflection ignites new spark.
by the fireplace,
the candle and I
dance to pages in my notebook —
letters expose obscure words,
teach me to read between lines
_______________________
haiku, senryu, tanka, & renga
Year two of our Daily Haiku explored the intimate connection between haiku, senryu, tanka, and renga. In gratitude to all who participated, we wanted to post the year in renga. Renga is a form of collaborative poetry, written in community.
At the beginning of the year, the poetry leaned toward haiku, senryu, and tanka; renga was slow to develop. By year’s end, the renga spanned weeks, and the trend moved to longer strands of poetry. For that reason, we are dividing a year of renga into two posts, in the order they were written. Part 2 will follow this week.
You can find helpful links, definitions, and read more about the relationship between the poetry forms in haiku 2 (one-a-day). Deep bows to Natalie and Clark. And to the poets who visit red Ravine, and help keep poetry alive.
redravine.wordpress.com 