Monday, April 20, 2009

The Long Journey of a Falling Leaf



riding the tide
swirling peach blossoms
- laughter on the shore

the black squirrel at dawn
digging up tulips

that clown
is my bodhisattva
-his pinwheel spinning

noises under the hood
an incessant treadmill

souls coming, going
a funeral pyre
licks the moon

exhaling, in cool night air
wind chimes

inhaling poppies-
bombs over afghanistan
come home

breathing you in
intoxicating

a mental note
to call his mother
graveyard walk

a deep sigh...
deciding to go on alone

the long journey
of a falling leaf-
do it again

the old neighborhood
city streets wet with rain

thunderheads
discussing their son
he's caught in the moon

plum wine and cedar smoke
- drifting off to raindrops

empty swing
between being and non-being
still swinging

skirting wakefulness and dreams
furry buddha licks my face

her father's grizzled beard
pops the red balloon
-cherry blossoms

startled sparrows...
her fluttering hand fan

a simple breakfast
as we wait for dawn
green tea and birdsong

a double kigo
sometimes hits the spot

two tracks
one follows another
but wanders along the way

unsettled mind
telling secrets to the worry doll

withered lotus
daydreams linger
into darkness

evening downpour
a rainbow flag

midnight prayers
amidst the echos
of Quetzalcoatl

echoes in the canyon
she won't return my calls

long distance-
we finish each other's
sentence

autumn deepens
companion book explains

lanterns set afloat
-my last friend
the moon

lights out!
a toast to morning glory

looking over
this dewy path
fleeting autumn

to be a flower or a boat
the path narrows

brush strokes-
the current quickens
it's pace

on wet canvas
the butterfly's flutter

under rainy skies
barberry leaves more red
yellow blossoms

warrior's heart
bursting from the surprise of birds


A kasen completed April 24, 2009

Authors:

bandit--
verses 4, 8, 12, 16, 19, 23, 27, 31, 35

bluetoque--
verses 2, 6, 9, 13, 17, 21, 24, 28, 32

el coyote--
verses 1, 5, 10, 14, 18, 22, 25, 29, 33

govindajohn--
verses 3, 7, 11, 15, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36

73 comments:

bandit said...

Well done, lads-aim for the 'moon'!

bluetoque said...

noises under the hood: was that you John?

bluetoque said...

"where she lay her head..." did we get out of sync there- shouldn't that be a long one, no season + love?

bandit said...

yes, you're right.

el coyote said...

my bad I'll revise

bluetoque said...

Well, I changed it up. I think what I added it fits in but if you guys aren't happy with that then just delete those last two entries.

bluetoque said...

Sorry EC if I screwed things up just delete and go ahead. I'm off for a bit will catch up later.

el coyote said...

I really like that stanza bt... lets keep it the way it is... I guess we'll just switch positions, so I'll go second....

John Merryfield said...

thought provoking! ...and prolific. yikes, I need to quit my job to keep up. by the way,"under the hood" wasn't me, I'm in the 3 hole. Work calls but I'll have time to compose late this evening. having fun.

bluetoque said...

So it's all good then. I'm loving that bodhisattva clown by the way. Turning the dharma pinwheel, so to speak.
No worries on the time thing. I'm busy myself at work this week.

bandit said...

Hey guys. Like the interaction here. Damn good crew!
I've been working in the rural north-ginko-no-renga! Still no blossoms here, but things are starting to green.
I was by the St. Croix river today-glacial rock and bluffs and pines galore. So peaceful.
I'm at the four slot...

bandit said...

...and pinwheel, a spring kigo.
Johnny's a clever lad!

So, Blue'; how do you pronounce 'toque?

bluetoque said...

toque is pronounced like "too-ck" (long o). Rhymes with kook. It comes from the French. It's how we Canadians refer to our oh-so-important winter hats. You may see it spelled 'touque' as well. It's a silly handle, but I can't seem to part with it.

el coyote said...

changed that last entry... it sounded cliche

bluetoque said...

Hey bandit, No blossom up here either, although I believe we are on the cusp. My walk tonight was absolutely filled with birdsong. And the blue heron has returned to the local pond.

bandit said...

Nice one, El.

el coyote said...

Okay so bluetoque is up....

bluetoque
El coyote
john
bandit

John Merryfield said...

blown away! thunderheads and the moon... wow! and...off to raindrops. I feel like a novice.

bandit said...

I 'took' the day off-been napping the last three hours.
I recall swing is a spring kigo...
let me ponder this...

bluetoque said...

I wonder if we should try swapping around the long and the short stanzas between each contribution? For example, Eric and I swap out, taking turns between the long and the short (as we've done once already), then John and bandit could do the same. Do you think that might help to mix things up a bit?

bandit said...

I wouldn't suggest it as a matter of course; however, John and I have accomplished pre-planned switches without disruption.
I believe I made that suggestion
in our e-mail correspondence so no one would feel "pigeon holed"
to one verse length. Say, a switch halfway, allowing equal opportunity to practice verse lengths or not to carry a load.
A lot of these two-liners could be full fledged 'ku, so to speak.
I'm not taking a role of sabaki here, so its up to you guys.
turdus migatorious will join us soon, creating an odd number, thus everyone would have a chance at both lengths.
When mimi_chan returns, back to even; more than likely others will join the "club", also. Something to consider.

bluetoque said...

Hey bandit, that sounds great.

bandit said...

Also, there is the rengay format:
3 line-2 line-3-line, repeat-two authors take turns.
And Vince Seward's renghai;
see the link for masago-no-haiku
at Haiku Bandit Society.
In any case, we'll have ample opportunity in future to try different approaches. I'm glad you brought it up. I'd like to do some things where we each submit a line and then choose the best for each position. Some folks don't like that old school approach, though, because typically the selection would be at the whim of one person-
oh, well, we'll see how it goes.

bandit said...

My apologies to Mr. Seward-his name is Vaughn.
To make amends I'll add a link to his site here.

John Merryfield said...

bandit. wanna switch? at what verse? sorry for the spring kigo with swing.

bandit said...

I recall balloon is also a spring kigo-in future, you might want to avoid double kigos, though this one made me laugh out loud!
Leave it, leave it!

John Merryfield said...

kigo kigo

at which verse shall we switch?

bandit said...

No need to apologise to me-I just remember odd things like telephone numbers and stuff-yeah, sure, this time, though in future we could pre-plan. It's my anal nature-read my profile, there, Jacob!

bandit said...

Lemmee see there, Bob-we're halfway, so would I take 19?
I changed a word in my last verse 'cause I repeated yours.

John Merryfield said...

ok, so you take 19 and I'll take 20... to the ageku

bluetoque said...

Hmm, I had read the kasen format for my spot as: spring season word + blossom. So it should have just been invoking blossom (or bloom?) as it's season word then? Okay, next time. Thanks for your patience.

el coyote said...

hmmm.. in retrospect fan seems like a summer kigo.... think I should change it?

John Merryfield said...

coyote... don't change that... I love it!

el coyote said...

cool!

bandit said...

it's a fine line, 'toque-yet an ingenious link!

bandit said...

sparrow children-warmth, first warm days; spring kigos.
How do I remember all this stuff?

John Merryfield said...

I can't help myself

bandit said...

Incorrigible!
...can I have that with a side of fries?

You have a message from Gillena at "Renga-HBS'.

John Merryfield said...

Oh nice...I wouldn't have caught that, thanks. I've been visiting the lunch break ever since you put up her link. Very enjoyable.

bluetoque said...

struggling with: wanders 'along the way' or 'side-to-side'

el coyote said...

I like wandering....

my following entry plays on the term wandering, likening it to the wandering mind!

el coyote said...

along the way!

bandit said...

just my preference; 'along the way' has a double meaning for me, as though following a spiritual path, yet having trouble adhering to it-the story of my life!

bandit said...

beautiful, El.

I'm off to mines-return this after.

bluetoque said...

psst, elcoyote, when do you want to switch 'em up?

el coyote said...

Lets switch after the next entry... so the entry after withered lotus.. we'll start a new cycle....

eric
blue
john
bandit

bluetoque said...

sounds good!

John Merryfield said...

Bandit and I just switched...so I think that we'll continue as is. I flew the rainbow flag and he went previous to my post, so the two of you can decide how to switch it up with each other. I'm enjoying everyone's participation very much. I liked "along the way" and "secrets to a worry doll" and "withered lotus"... Very inspired.

el coyote said...

think quetzalcoatl sounds good? I was considering using "kami" instead... suggestions?

el coyote said...

soft echos of rain kami?

John Merryfield said...

Your instincts don't seem to need refinement, but I like Quetzalcoatl. Mexicano en mi sangre.

bluetoque said...

I find both equally intriguing. But I'm with John, and I'm thinking Quetzalcoatl doesn't want to be disturbed.

el coyote said...

Okay, sounds good! Thanks y'all!

bluetoque said...

Man, I love checking in and seeing what comes next. Nice one bandit.

bandit said...

Did you know that morning glories can also represent a love metaphor?

I'll see if I can find that reference-probably at Gabi sensai's
World Kigo Database-oh, that reminds me! I'll post another list of references above. Looks like some old and new translations from Japanese included.

el coyote said...

nice one bt!

bandit said...

Sorry guys-took me half the day.
Finally stopped trying to be clever and went shasei.
Does this link up ok?
A big sky to a tiny blossom...

bandit said...

Take us home, John.

bluetoque said...

Agreed, it seems the last kick at the can demands a little more thought. I think it links up rather nicely bandit.

John Merryfield said...

Oh, very nice Bandit! I feel like the guy with a broom at the end of a rose parade. I feel a bit unworthy. This sure has been fun though and pleased with the results!

el coyote said...

Bravo! Thanks guys, that was a blast!

bandit said...

Thank you, John.

I re-read that several times.

It elicited a strong feeling in me as though we had conquered an improbable opponent.
I hear the rush of birds wings...

I was also impressed with 'toque's
'lantern's' verse, and el c's 'worry doll'.
These and more are worthy additions
to each of your individual sites.
Let's take a moment to read the finished kasen.
Then, we should cast about these verses to seek a title.
A very satisfying collaboration.
Thank you all.

bluetoque said...

Here's raising a glass to you three. Thank you, that was quite rewarding. I loved seeing what would come next. Well done!

bandit said...

Skoal!

bluetoque said...

I'm afraid I can't take credit for the lanterns though. That was elcoyote's light, burning bright.

bandit said...

Of course, we'll list the verses by author.
Did I mention 'two tracks'?

Emma Dalloway said...

this is absolutely brilliant

bandit said...

D,

Thanks, kiddo, glad you liked it.
These lads are very creative.

So, what do think of this title?:

The long journey of a falling leaf

Guys, what is your input, please?

And let's list verses by handle;
I'll go first, alphabetically.

John Merryfield said...

Morning Bandit-
It reads very nicely. I like the title you've chosen and handles work for me.

bluetoque said...

Good morning. Hope everyone is having a good weekend. The title works for me, bandit - well-chosen.

el coyote said...

sounds good bandit!

bandit said...

Thanks fellas-either you're overly kind or I was lucky in a selection
of title. Better run with it!

So...what's next?

Definately would like to see another kasen here soon-T. Migratorious has agreed to join us.

A myriad of possibilities!

Devika Jyothi said...

Oh a wonderful series, all :)

thoroughly enjoyable,
including some of the exchanges :)

wishes,
devika