Sturgeon Moon

The Full Moon in August is referred to by the Native Americans as the Sturgeon Moon. It is thought that it was due to the large numbers of sturgeon that were available in the northern lakes and rivers at this time of year. Sturgeon are thought to be prehistoric remnants of the ice age. They are bottom feeders that live much longer than most fish. Their boney scale-less bodies and long pointy noses make them look quite different from most fish. Today, Frank Tassone asked us to write a Haikai poem that refers to the Sturgeon Moon. The painting above, of the moon over the mountains and the flowing river, is one I did a few months back. Yesterday, I went back and added more details and color to the original. It is a recycled painting from the Habitat Restore.

Sturgeon Moon rises

Like a boney reflection

Ancient survivor

This is my little corner of the garage where I do my painting!

Join us at:   https://frankjtassone.com/2019/08/10/haikai-challenge-99-8-10-19-sturgeon-moon-haiku-senryu-haibun-tanka-haiga-renga/

 

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Katydid Still Sings

Once again we hear of senseless shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio. In a world filled with stress and divisiveness this has sadly become something to be expected.  Without addressing the root problem of mental illness it will continue on into the future. The song of the Katydid reminds us that life will go on in spite of us.

Sounds of shots echo

Evil rears its ugly head

Katydid still sings

*

Photo: Public Domain

Frank Tassone asks us to write a Haikai poem that includes the Katydid.

Join us at:  https://frankjtassone.com/2019/08/04/haikai-challenge-98-8-4-19-katydid-kirigirisu-haiku-senryu-haibun-tanka-haiga-renga/

 

 

Heat Wave

Temperatures rising

Europe is having a heat wave

Looking for relief

Cows and people love water

Cooling off under shade trees

Swim as ships pass by

Skinny-dipping man chillin’

Right next to our ship!

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

Our prompt from Lillian today at d’Verse was temperature! It is getting hot, hot, hot, this summer! When we were on our trip up the Rhine, temperatures were in the mid 90s F. It was still a very enjoyable trip. We stayed in the shade as much as possible. All along the river people were camping and swimming finding relief from the heat.

Join us at: https://deversepoets.com

Locks

Traveling up the Rhine River, we passed through several locks, where the ship enters and is raised to a higher level. We went through most of them at night, but on this evening we came to a lock just before sunset. It was an interesting experience to see the water filling the lock and watch us rise. The opposite doors slowly opened and we moved on up the river just as the sun was setting.  It reminded me of life.

Rocks in our life stream…

Pause // close the door behind you

Let good friends lift you;

Move to a higher level

Let negative pain behind.

Summer sun drops low…

Enjoy the evening orange hues

Tomorrow // new day

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

Posted on https://dversepoets.com open link night!

Living Gold

Gold finches return

Gold come in different forms

Sunshine in feathers

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

 

Dutch Ingenuity

We were told trees are not planted on the dikes at Kinderjik. The reason is because if storms come through and blows them over it would tear up the dikes. There are a few willow trees that grow close to the windmills. They are used to grow saplings year after year for the Miller to use in various situations. The fence you see above is made of woven willow saplings. Reeds grow all along the dikes and are also harvested and dried. They are use for weaving baskets. Reed roots also help stabilize the dikes. They are places for ducks and birds to live and nest.

Reeds and willow sticks

Harvested every summer

Stacked and dried in sun

Builds fences, gates, and baskets

Dutch ingenuity shows

Reeds grow all along the dikes at Kinderjik and are dried for use

Willow sticks and reeds are stacked to dry for future use

Goat pen gate and feeding trough made from willow saplings

You can see how the saplings are trimmed off this willow stump

One of very few trees seen on the dikes of Kinderjik.

Photos from Kinderjik, Netherlands: Dwight L. Roth

Skinny Dipping

How hot is it? Hot enough to go skinny dipping!  When we were docked at Strasbourg, France, it was 96 F. Europe was having a heat wave  As we were leaving for our tour, we looked down the way, just beyond our ship, and there along the shore was a middle aged man skinny dipping! It did not seem to bother him at all that he was so near to a shipload of people. He came up out of the water, picked up his clothes and began to dress!

Hot summer calls for

a skinny dip in the Rhine

French men are not shy

When we were leaving for a walk later in the afternoon he was back carrying a bucket!

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

The Wedding Party

On our canal tour of Amsterdam, we passed a boat load of wedding guests. The Wedding party and the couple’s parents were crowded into the boat. It was interesting to see the celebration beginning as they passed.

Groom and Best Man toast

Floating down the city canal

Flower girl holds basket

Families along for the ride

Party is just beginning

A basket of wedding flowers adorns the bow of the boat load of celebrants

The wedding party in all their wedding attire ride in an open boat floating down the canal

Bride and Groom pose in the boat for a photo

The cute little blonde flower girl still holds her basket and wears an orange plastic life vest!

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

 

My Haikai Poetry now on Kindle

My Haikai poetry book that I self-published a couple of months ago is now available on Amazon Kindle.  If you are signed up with Kindle Unlimited you can read for free.

Check out my other kindle books on amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/Dwight-Roth/e/B017HW5AHG?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1563634022&sr=8-1

 

 

Creative Sense of Humor

Traveling on our route to the Black Forest we passed through a small village. As we came aroung the bend, there smiling at us were faces carved into the large shrubry.  As we went on, we came to another house with a weird elephant painted on the side facing the road. It had one high eye and one low eye and a little gold crown floating above his head. It is always good to see people who enjoy a good sense of humor as much as I do.

Life is short

Make the world a happy place

Be bold // create smiles

Photos: Dwight L. Roth