Tree of Life (tanka)

Today, Hamish Gunn of Cabin Fever is our Ghost Writer.  He is presenting us with the image of the Tree of Life which he has visited in his past in the desert of Bahrain.

He says: 

"Quite a few times Chèvrefeuille has alluded to the deeper meaning in haiku, and his haiku. Try to bring that into your haiku about the Tree of Life. That deeper meaning is not there in the first reading, or maybe not even in the second. But have it there.

In this haiku by Chèvrefeuille for example, in his 'Carpe Diem lecture 1':

the fence looks bright

in the early hazy sunlight -

crystal cobweb

(c) Chèvrefeuille

We see the intense image, but also a story. Why 'early'? It helps the imagery, but also evokes youth, as does the bright, and therefore freshly painted fence of the new home. The crystal cobweb further nudges the scene of a newly married couple – the precious stone of wedding ring – but the cobweb is the warning, the path that will not be easy, full of traps. The effect, then, is of a wonderful morning in a new home, with cutting, dark edges to the innocent scene."

Hamish invites us to dig deep inside our souls as we write with this prompt "Tree of Life".  This is to be our title we must use to ensure we do not use those words in our haiku or tanka. We are asked to give our verse depth as well as imagery.

Our host has upped the bar with such vivid picture here:

the Garden of Eden,

entrance to paradise,

will there be Bonsai?

© Chèvrefeuille

Tree of Life Bahrain (© Hamish Gunn)

L’ermite

erre le désert en explorant

serpents attardent

béni d’une présence sacrée

ramures et  feuilles enlacent

~

the hermit

roams the desert in quest,

serpents lie in wait,

blessed with  sacred presence

branches and leaves embrace
+

seek not alone

branches hold the leaves

ants applaud

© Tournesol 2014

Submitted for: 

Carpe Diem Ghost Writer #24, Hamish Gunn's analyzed a haiku.

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