Richard Wright's first "their watching faces " - December 4, 2014

among the crowds, like
books carelessly left open
faces telling tales

another story -
tragedy or happiness
on a stranger's face

I'm a wanderer
walking on this autumn road
collecting stories

(c) G.s.k. '14

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This is the first special dedicated to the haiku poetry of Richard Wright ... this is his haiku which we used as inspiration to write a new poem, in the same tone as his ... using the 5-7-5 format which he preferred.

Their watching faces,

as I walk the autumn road

make me a traveler.

© Richard Wright

Here is our host's contribution:

following the sand path

circling around this mountain

I feel like an eagle

© Chèvrefeuille

For more information about the prompts and about Richard Wright please follow the link below.

Linked to Carpe Diem Haiku Kai Special

Writing with Gibran - Beggar - August 31, 2014

This is the last  haiku prompt dedicated to "Sea and Foam" offered by Carpe Diem Haiku Kai the month began with the following quote:

I am forever walking upon these shores,

Betwixt the sand and the foam,

The high tide will erase my foot-prints,

And the wind will blow away the foam.

But the sea and the shore will remain 

Forever.

Something to always keep in mind as we reflect upon life!  Here are the quotes that will inspire the beggar series:

[...] "We are all beggars at the gate of the temple, and each one of us receives his share of the bounty of the King when he enters the temple, and when he goes out. But we are all jealous of one another, which is another way of belittling the King". [...]

envy at the gate
among the rich and the poor
always wanting more

beggars at the gate
searching for recognition
the king showers gifts

jealous of others
the gates of heaven close
againt the anger

the here and now
 enjoying life's bounty
gateway to heaven

©  G.s.k. '14

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Now for a beautiful series from Kikaku and Issa:

the beggar!

he has Heaven and Earth,

for his summer clothes

© Kikaku

  Now a few haiku by Issa.

kimi ga yo wa kojiki no ie mo nobori kana

Great Japan!
even a beggar's house
has a summer banner

kiji naite ume ni kojiki no yo nari keri

pheasant crying--
it's a plum blossom-filled
beggar's world now!

hatsu yuki ya asaebisu suru kado kojiki

first snowfall--
early morning at my gate
a beggar

 

 

at the temple gate

I bow in front of beggars

honoring their spirit

© Chèvrefeuille

beggar's bowl,

chased by the autumn wind,

enters the temple

© Chèvrefeuille

 

Sparkling Stars - Kikaku - The Begger - August 25, 2014

For Carpe Diem Haiku Kai ...

...] "When Soshi was about to die, his disciples wished to bury him in a grand style, but Soshi said, "My coffin will be Heaven and Earth; for the funeral ornaments of jade, there are the sun and moon; for my pearls and jewels I shall have the stars and constellations; all things will be my mourners. Is not everything ready for my burial? What should be added to this?" [...]

the beggar!

he has Heaven and Earth,

for his summer clothes

© Kikaku

at the cemetery

beneath cherry blossoms in full bloom

grandmother's fresh grave

© Chèvrefeuille

Classical Haiku

1. 5-7-5 syllables

2. a kigo (or seasonword)

3. a kireji (or cutting word, in Western languages mostly interpunction)

4. a moment as short as the sound of a pebble thrown into water

5. a deeper meaning (could be Zen-Buddhistic or other spiritual or religious thought)

6. and the first and the third line are interchangeable.

Beggers

birds fly in the sky
producing nothing but song
accepting Earth's gifts

wooded wanderers
without a home or shelter
cleaning their antlers

those homeless people
sleeping under Heaven's stars
fed by your kindness

Found on : Oil Painting Book 530