Thanksgiving (haibun)

© Clr 2014

© Clr 2014

© Clr 2014

  

 

Thanksgiving

burst of colours, spice

this season with pizzazz,

friends and family

 

© Tournesol '14 

Thanksgiving is a time to host family and friends and share a warm meal together. Eating ( one of my favourite things) is a social event. The preparations are labours of love: setting the table all nice and just right...setting up games and areas for grandchildren to play and maybe offering Halloween loot bag for the kids. Could not wait to have them take away those goodies cos I have been sampling them all week.

I am grateful for many things in my life.  I grew up in a family who loved me and never hesitated to show me or tell me.  My grandmother, mother, Aunt Mae and Uncle Fred who love me like their daughter, my cousin and his wife who hold me in their hearts more like a sister and their son who makes me feel so special; my son  who is turning into a guardian of sorts…looking out for his ol`mom as well as well as my daughter who "gets it". I am grateful for my grandson who came into our lives ten years ago and as of yesterday, I have been blessed with two more grandsons and a great son-in-law. 

I am so blessed with amazing friends near and far but no matter the distance or quantity of time we are together, I never question their love.

I am also  thankful for still having my health to work in a career that fulfills me spiritually, intellectually and emotionally. I feel privileged to be there for many youths who struggle with life and embrace the fact that they trust me and our service to reach out as they do.

I am grateful I met the most compassionate woman through a caring family...a son/poet/blogger who inspired me to write, his mother/blogger/psychotherapist, who facilitated my first retreat with Amma.  There are many paths to get to inspirational and spiritual destinations...indeed!

I'm grateful for my lovely Bette who fits in so beautifully in my life. It`s as if we are kindred spirits...my BFF (best feline friend).

I am forever thankful to have discovered blogging...writing is wonderful but alone it is not as enriching or inspiring as in a community of amazing people who have embraced me and taught me...and still teach me each day, at WordPress.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

© Cheryl-Lynn 2014/10/13

autumn melody (haibun)




Photo credits:  Gettt Images



I felt energized walking to the bus today with the warm sun.  Imagine walking September 25^th in a sleeveless shirt and jeans.  Yes, indeed, it was so warm, I had to put my hair up in a bun, the sun was so hot on my neck.  I had checked the forecast before leaving and felt encouraged to see that mid 20C was expected until Sunday. Today was my last day of my work week since I have Friday and Saturday off.  So off I marched to the bus in good spirits.

summer heat

yet autumn wind

blew fallen leaves

Ah but when I passed a row of trees, my feet touched a precious season’s gift.  I slowed my pace to hear the sound that pleased my ears.  Within a few seconds, I was a ten year old walking to school  hearing the crunch under my feet observing the lawns covered with reds, amber and shades of gold and yellow.  Fast-forwarding in my reverie I was jumping in a large pile of leaves, making my crunch, autumn bed...last  play before the ground will freeze...until I will lay on a white blanket making snow angels...but not quite yet...

jubilant

walking through autumn treasures

crunch of fallen leaves 

 ***

crunch of fallen leaves

season`s new sonata

music to my ears

(c) Tournesol '14

Carpe Diem Haiku Kai #570 Fallen leaves


Posted by Cheryl-Lynn Roberts 2014/09/26

Prelude (haiga)

(c) C.L.R. '14

green to gold

rusting grassland

reaching to the sky

(c) C.L.R. '14

smiling at the sun

embracing autumn

squirrel in the park

(c) C.L.R.'14

prelude

burst of colours

last concerto

(c) Tournesol '14

Vivaldi - Autumn, The Four Seasons (Concerto No. 3 in F major, Op. 8, RV 293)

Posted by Cheryl-Lynn Roberts, 2014/09/24

weaving deams (haibun)



© C.L.R. '14 Wishes do come true

 

Everyone should have dreams and when they are met, then we need to add more.  It is what adds life and spice to our lives.  As a very young child I dreamt of being an actress like Marilyn Monroe driving around in a red flamed Cadillac …HA!  

Then I wanted to be a nun or nurse when I was in elementary school. My grandmother was a mid-wife but to me she was a nurse. Then I realized I could not stand the sight of blood and all I wanted to do was hold patients’ hands and comfort them.  Ah, so that was a counsellor or social workers. 

 

Teaching was also another dream, so  I wavered between counsellor and teacher. Going to university would have taken a long time and cost money which  mom did not have, but I got a scholarship for a secretarial college and married young, had children which was  a huge part of my dream!!   So this other dream was on hold, simmering always at the back of my mind.    During the years I was home until the children were in school I dabbled a bit in writing, another dream I had growing up. I used to fantasize typing my novel in the attic of an ocean side house. 

 

I did eventually work in homecare as a person support worker, and eventually got my degree to work in counselling.  There were roadblocks alright!   I managed to work in a private school for five years (so I guess the teacher dream came to fruition).  But then I met some stumbling blocks.  It was difficult finding work in my location after the teaching position closed; but I was determined to have my degree recognized and work in a career I had been dreaming of for over 25 years. Moving  600 km away was the answer in attaining my dreams.  Sometimes we get tested as to just how important it is to achieve a dream…so working further away for a decade allowed me to fulfill my dream and come back home with substantial and marketable experience.  I was able to continue working in a career I love. 

Going back to university as an older adult with life experience was the best thing for me in order to succeed and become the counsellor I am today.   

March 2013 I started writing just to get things off of my chest or stand on my soapbox about issues important to me such as mental health. And then I dared write a poem here and there and discovered it was very therapeutic.  It was as if my muse kept me company when I was at two extremes…very happy or in extreme pain both physically and emotionally.  Now I write daily out of passion for the written word.  I still have dreams like volunteering to find more resources for people suffering with mental illness and their friends and family…I’m working on it…hopefully I will find more time for that and painting and drawing...I would love to be able to draw the images in my mind that match the poetry I write.

Someday I would like to publish some of my poetry to give to my children, a genre of legacy.

 

weaving patterns

life spins with staggered threads

tapestry of dreams

 

© Tournesol '14

 

Posted by Cheryl-Lynn Roberts, 2014/09/23

 

Carpe Diem Tackle it Tuesday, #8 Fixity

trains, trains and more trains (haibun)

 

© C.L.R. CNRail - Toronto to Montreal '14

I grew up in a town nicknamed "hogtown". That is a term given to places that  have many "train engineers"...I think anyway.  Many family members on my mother's side worked for CPRail and my mother took my sister and me regularly on the train that left Farnham to Montreal at Windsor Station.

© C.L.R. Windsor Station - Montreal - 2014

CP has sold off certain sections of their rails to an American company...yes, yes, that was the one that is responsible for the tragic explosion in Lac Megantic last summer.  And yes, I know personally some people involved...such a tragedy.

Now back to this train town...if a long freight train passes through (and there were too many, let me tell you) motorists were often blocked from fifteen minutes to an hour.  The cause of course that the freight was so long it blocked all the railroad crossings.

I remember as a driver, seeing the freight train arriving at one end of the town near the Military base, I would step on the gas to get to another crossing before the train blocked me from getting home.

But as a young child, I suppose we enjoyed watching the trains, those huge steel wheels.  My grandmaman lived 4 houses by the tracks...the busiest railroad crossing by the river.  I ran across the tracks just as the bells were ringing and seconds before the gate was lowered hearing the man at the wooden tower yell at me.  I sure wouldn't do that now but as a child we see our peers brave it, so why not.

There was a dog across the street that ran only on 3 three legs. The story goes that he got a leg caught under a train...it was a schnoodle but in the 60's we just call him a mix. He was a lively fella and ran pretty fast...we could never catch up to him. But if he came on his own free will, well he just washed your face with his lickin' {smiles}

We could see the dam from my Grandmaman'shouse {which became my home too as a teen) and over that dam was a train bridge. Now if you had friends on the other side, it was very frustrating having to cross only the regular car bridge to get home. I know many of my peers would cross that bridge ...bravely...I did it only once but being mostly a goodie two shoes and scarety cat, once was enough.  But I remember how amazed I was at how quickly I could get to that other side...it literally saved a pedestrian an hour...so I get it.

In those days, most folks knew the time that regular freight trains would pass that bridge ...but what if there was an extra load on the way?  Yeah, I often thought of many "what if's".

When we were newly weds, we lived in a small furnished studio apartment over a bowling alley.  Yes, there was noise until 11:00 PM and as the building quieted so everyone could sleep, the shunting of trains began behind us were about a dozen tracks and we were 2 minutes from the passenger station.   This place was worse than my home by the river.  The good thing was you could never be afraid of thunder storms, you just had to imagine they were the trains at it again.

© C.L.R. view from my childhood home, train bridge. 2014

noontime freight

village held hostage

cold soup

braving shortcuts

dodging the two o’clock

whistle blows

by the tracks

houses tremors to quake,

shunting at night

shunting at twilight

toddler wails, nightmares

end of the world

© Tournesol '14

Posted by Cheryl-Lynn Roberts, 2014/09/18

Haiku Horizons Prompt "train"

Aham (haibun)

© C.L.R. 2014

The daisy is my favourite flower. It is a simple and modest flower.  It is a mixture of contradictions as well, with strength and sturdiness, standing independent and tall.  The many petals representing so many facets of a personality and yet, hidden beneath are rows of yet to be discovered unknown faces.

I heard somewhere, years ago, that the daisy was too proud, always trying to ‘show up’ among other flora. So the Great Spirit sent the daisy out alone in meadows and obscure places to flourish. Ah, but the daisy still did. 

I think it was not that the daisy wanted to show off its beauty but rather to show off its durability, its strength and tenacity.  The determination required to flourish even out in vacant fields facing all sorts of weather…tells me that is a strong personality.

Alas, where there is strength, there is an expectation that is will last forever…it wanes with time, with age. The stems are no longer as sturdy to carry the flower and the petals start to wilt, slowly falling one by one…the daisy needs a rod or staff on which to lean. Will this proud stubborn daisy ever ask for support ?

spirited daisy

reaching for the sky

vanity wins

withering

Mother Nature’s cruel wit

reality wins

sagging stem

no staff in sight, finally

humility rules

The price of  humility is mindfulness leaning for acceptance.

marguerite animée

levée vers le ciel

vanité triomphe

flétrissement

esprit cruel, mère nature

vérité triomphe

tige accroupie

aucun soutien, enfin

humilité règne

© Tournesol '14

Aham is a Hindu word for ego or pride.

Heeding Haiku With HA: “Aham”    

MindLoveMiserys Menagerie  

Mother Nature Knows Best (Haibun)

My bare feet tickled by the coolness of the grass as I stood to admire the full moon. Today is the last day. It is at its fullest but, alas, there are clouds.  One can see why Mother Nature planned this for such simple beings as we are, how could we possibly grasp such a powerful and illuminating moon?  Yes, indeed, Mother Nature understood fully that part of this glow had to be draped by billows here and there.

The energy I inhaled looking up was quite imposing.  I took in only what I could…Mother Nature knows best.

© C.L.R. 2014

grey drapes

shade some of its magnitude

full moon

© Tournesol '14

© C.L.R. 2014

full moon

breathing energy in your

commanding presence.

© Tournesol '14

Carpe Diem #557 Full Moon

Posted by Cheryl-Lynn Roberts, 2014/09/09

truth be told (haibun)

I do enjoy the weather this time of year.  I usually love to walk in parks and when I have a chance to visit my friend in Bromont, I love to walk along the fields.  My only problem is my allergy to ragweed and this is the worst allergy season unfortunately until the first frost. In Montreal and surrounding areas, it is actually illegal to have ragweed growing on anyone's property. So owners of large acres of open meadows are fined IF that weed is noticed.  It works in part but it is difficult to police everywhere.  At least the government tries to maintain the grassland along highways.

When I used to drive to Toronto, ( 6 hour drive) with open windows my eyes would water so much and my sinuses clog...even if I took medication.  Times like this you need to have air conditioning in your vehicle or open just the sunroof open.

So it is with mix emotions I almost can't wait for that first frost usually towards the mid to end of October, so I can reduce my allergy medication. I say reduce only because dust and many perfumed products affect me all year round.

So here is to cooler weather so we can sleep better nights with the window slightly open and eat good sweet corn. 

(c) C.L.R,.2014

cooler weather

pleasant walks near corn fields

nasty ragweed

(c) Tournesol 2014

Tackle it Tuesday #6 Veracity 

Posted by Cheryl-Lynn Roberts, 2014/09/09

message in the sky (haibun)

This is certainly going to be a challenge with the 12 hour time frame and our time difference but so far, I have not missed the boat...Carpe Diem Time Glass, challengine new feature

Contrails

The very first thing that comes to mind seeing this sky is a memory of  early childhood where I truly believed my grandparents who flew down south would drop a postcard on their way and it mysteriously fell in my backyard.  Why would I not believe this tale since my father would come into the house, pretending to be out of breath, shouting, "Come see, kids, a special card from Nanny and Grandpa was delivered by a jet."  

So in the eye of that child that still lives and breathes inside me:

not so fast!

Nanny may miss my house

autumn leaves

as an adult, I acquiesce...

it’s time

writing is in the sky

autumn leaves

acorn nuts

squirrels working overtime

autumn leaves

© Tournesol 2014

Posted by Cheryl-Lynn Robers 2014/09/08

Tears of joy (haibun)

+Our host at  Haiku Shuukan  has given us another interesting prompt.  At "Sand and Foam" by Khalil Gibran,  there is a verse about “tears”:  [...] "There must be something strangely sacred in salt. It is in our tears and in the sea". [..   And the prompt this week is "Tears".

Here are two haiku, Chèvrefeuille, our host has written on tears.

with tears in my eyes
I see how the wind is ruining
fragile beauty

fragile beauty
a gust of wind tears apart
Cherry Blossoms

© Chèvrefeuille (2013)

 

I am easily brought to tears when I am sad as much as when I am happy or exposed to exquisite beauty. I cry when I am emotionally touched like when my children were born, when I assisted to the birth of our grandson, and when I was hugged by Amma at a retreat in July; I cry when I have to say goodbye or when I meet family or friends after a time we`ve been apart. So many reasons. I have blue eyes and just walking outside if it is sunny or a bit windy, if it is cold like in winter, my eyes just tear up.   My children used to watch  me whenever a movie got to a sad part to see when I would cry; I even cry at commercials...so there you have it, I am a cry baby still at my age:)  The most fun tears are those of joy and laughter, laughing until my tummy muscles hurt.

 

© C.L.R. June 1, 2014

 

oceans filled with tales

joys, pain and suffering, spark

salty tears

 

tears of joy

finally after seven years

our son is born.

 

 

our daughter sings

with her angelic peers

awe illicit tears

 

fragile blue eyes

shy away from blaring sun

tears in the wind.

 

tearing

as the sun sets

on the water

 

 

© Tournesol '14

 

Posted by Cheryl-Lynn Roberts, 2014/08/31

Haiku Shuukan #20, Tears 

 

 

New beginnings (haibun)

My car broke down in the middle of the Jacques Cartier Bridge yesterday. My front wheel just ripped off the frame due to rust. I heard the sound of screeching burning rubber...cars behind me slamming on their brakes. Thank the Great Spirit they were swift. I am thankful I was not hit and I did not cause any accidents. Here I was in the middle of the bridge traffic coming and going on both sides of me.  The endless possibilites...  THAT is the only thing that kept playing in my mind...the cause of a multiple car pile up collision ...and it did not happen.   No one was hurt...my car is scrapped...do not want anyone to EVER drive that killer trap.  I signed it over to my mechanic and that is that.  We now bury the remains of a shark (Tiburon Hyundai)...so be it!  

 (kyoka)

new moon
cosmos shift
scrapped my car

metal doctor diagnosed

its terminal fate

(American sentence) 

let us all bow our heads in silence

as we mourn this pack of metal.

© Tournesol

Now that that is out of the way. I can respond to this prompt seriously.  

Our host wrote:

new moon

she, our moon will grow again

a new life cycle

© Chèvrefeuille

I know that January is the traditional calendar New Year but September has always been a new change, a new year.  Even if children start a new year in September with school, how can we, as parents not be influenced by this new transformation. This time of year reminds me of new scribblers, brand new pens, writing real pretty on the first pages...it is a chance to start anew, to do better after a rest, vacation and it is an opportunity for students to grow...so much promise. 

Illusion scene

new moon

hidden promise

cycle renewed

given a second chance

season pleads to survive

survival triumphs

new moon winks slyly

a new beginning

© Tournesol '14

Posted by Cheryl-Lynn Roberts, 2014/08/26

Submitted for Carpe Diem Vision Quest #1 day 1 "New Moon"

silence (haibun)

One thing I have grown to appreciate more and more is “silence”. I have written many poems, haiku and senryû about silence inasmuch as the rivers and rapids listen to my silent pain and suffering. Sometimes it hears my frustrations after a long day or that I  needed  to find patience to finish my day with calm.

When our children were little, I remember riding my bike rapidly to the Chambly rapids to refuel. The children would want to come along and I would tell them to stay with their father for half an hour and then we could go for a family bike ride after supper.  I would get to the rapids and sit on a rock and just the gushing of water noisily flowing down the damn into the rapids would embrace all my emotions, my silent screams would drown.  All this washing me with a bit more serenity in the space of perhaps fifteen minutes.

Static Flickr

Days of frustrations

I sit by the river screaming

in silence.

 -

In silence

purging qualms

soul soothing

Our miniature Schnauzer, Desirée died at 13 years old on the morning of 9/11.  So much to absorb that day, week and months to come.

Unlocking the door

expect tiny paws clicking

silent vacancy

-

Life is filled with necessary losses

wrapped in burlap coverlets. 

I am a sunset chaser.  When I visit a new town or a new town around dusk, I need to sit and watch the sun bow the end of the day.  My first and only condo I purchased  on my own, I fell in love with the sun setting on the patio from the 20^th floor.  I have noticed when sitting with a friend or lover during a sunset, there are brief moments that no words are necessary to tell each other to simply watch in captivated silence. That is another reason I love climbing up to the roof of our work building when I can to simply see this breathtaking show.

© C.L.R. .2014

Tinted shades perform,

behold, speechless audience,

Show Time. 

In my work, listening is essential. Silence is often necessary to give a youth time to regroup, think through his/her next disclosure. Moreover, sometimes the silence tells me more…feeling the emotions weeping sadly through the phone line; I wait with humility and embrace their trust.

Frantic ramblings

halt in screaming silence,

connected

© Tournesol ' 14

Posted by Cheryl-Lynn Roberts, 2014/08/24

Carpe Diem Haiku Kai #546, Silence