Masters

Masters

Today at d’Verse, Frank Tassone offered to us two master poets. One was William Shakespear who was a prolific English poet and play-write. The second was the most revered Japanese poet Matsuo Bashō (松尾 芭蕉, 1644–1694), who introduced hokku which later became haiku poetry. Both men changed the world with their words. This is the goal of all of us who write. Our hope is that our words will shed light on the truth of the world around us in a way that has both present and lasting affect.

I write poems on my

journey with teacher Bashō

New beans sprouts today

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Such different poets

Shakespear and Bashō

Both pushing flowers

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Bashō visits Shakespear’s stage

So many words are spoken

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“All’s well that ends well”

What more needs to be spoken

Clear as fresh spring air

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Lost in endless lines of verse

Shakespear’s never ending voice

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Bashō speaks more with

less, like a set c-4 charge

Spring explodes

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I wrote my Haibun above, then added a few non-conformed haikai ranga verses following that give comparison of the two from Bashō’s perspective.

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Photos from d’Verse…

Last Chance

Dogwood park is closing tomorrow with the announcement of the stay at home order for the state of North Carolina. Only essential movement is permitted.  We decided to take advantage of the gorgeous day and meet our Son and family at the park for the first time on over three weeks. We picnicked using two tables and spread out making no physical contact with them. How odd not to greet with hugs!  It was a beautiful day and the dogwoods for which the park was named were in full bloom.

A beautiful day

Park will be closed from now on…

Dogwoods still blooming

Other families were enjoying the park….

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

Early Spring

Spring came early this year. Feels like March rather than February. Flowers are blooming in all their glory. More cold weather is predicted. Will they last? Only time will tell.

Fingers of sunshine

Petals of lavender-blue

Spring beauty soon gone

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Photo: Dwight L. Roth

 

The Last of the Berries

My pyracantha bushes were loaded with berries this summer. As winter came on, and food got scarce, the birds gradually began eating them. Today I was delighted to see three bluebirds on the bushes feeding on the last of the berries. I am thinking that they might be migrating north already.  We are expecting warm weather this week in the high 60 F and maybe even 70 F. Spring is on the way!

Bluebirds stop and eat

Last of the summer berries

Food for the journey

 

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

I am linking this to the Monday Haibun for Frank Tassone’s prompt spring.

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https://www.bing.com/search?q=do+bluebirds+migrate&form=EDGSPH&mkt=en-us&httpsmsn=1&msnews=1&plvar=0&refig=ebece0541fe1475587a805c38217930d&sp=-1&pq=do+bluebirds+migrate&sc=8-20&qs=n&sk=&cvid=ebece0541fe1475587a805c38217930d

The Edmond Fitzgerald

The Ship’s Bell Tolls
One of my favorite songs of all time is the Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald. The haunting lyrics of the song tell such a great story as they recount the perilous journey. A load of 126,000 tons of iron ore headed for the steel mills of Cleveland, Ohio. It must have been a scary sad time when the sailors realized they were taking on water and going down. The cold icy waters of Lake Superior took their toll and all was lost. As the Artic Blasts of November come moving across the United States, I thought I would repost this one for the Veteran Sailors who were lost in the Storm.

Icy wind whistles
Superior’s fright’ning death song
Sailors all go down

Spider Poetry

This beautiful writing spider floated in mid-air on the corner of my garage door. Spinning its lines next to the light, it sits waiting for the next poor bug to fly into the web. It is one of the biggest writing spiders that I have seen. Today I saw it wrapping up a bug for future consumption! Looks like his patience payed off!

Spider spins its web

Writing nature’s poetry

Floating on beauty

 

 

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

Posting this for my Monday Haibun  on  d’Verse Poets Pub

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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/

 

Remembering Mom

Mom passed away in 2007 at the age of 93. She was one of a kind, caring and compassionate, with a love that went beyond herself to those around her. Her life was spent in service to her family, her husband, and others.  She was strong and enduring, with a will to find meaning and purpose up to the end. She took time to read to us when we were young. Her faith in God went very deep and she shared that with everyone she met. She was a preacher’s wife who worked hard to bring the love of God to others.

Mom // strength of mountains

Caring love brings ebb and flow

Compassion for all

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Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Patio Picnic

One of my great memories is spending part of a week with my two cousins at a vacation house along Stone Mountain in Pennsylvania. We had a beautiful view of Big Valley, where I spent five summers working on their farm. We enjoyed catching up with what we had been doing and taking a walk to the local Amish  Bakery. A patio picnic with fresh corn on the cobb and baked chicken topped off the visit.

Summer picnic enjoyed

Great food good conversation

Sweetheart celebrates

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Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Gina, at d’Verse. reflects on picnics with her family over the years,  and asked us to write about a picnic we remember.

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Remembering a Life

Today we planted a flowering pear tree in the back yard to remember Ruth’s father. Some dear friends gave us money awhile ago to make the purchase. With spring in the air and temps in the high sixties, it seemed like a good day for this project. We are looking forward to seeing it bloom each spring and thinking of Dad.  It will be a great addition to our yard.

A day to reflect

Memories of dad will blossom

With the warmth of Spring

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Photo: Dwight L. Roth