Seven with Simon

The first line of each haiku or senryu is taken from “Time as Memory as Story” by Simon J. Ortiz.

Time has no mercy
on birds or stones or children—
cold are the ashes.

~~ ~~ ~~

We never had much,
but what we had was enough—
birdsong in our souls.

~~ ~~ ~~

You can never tell
when the next phantom will come
to pounce on your soul.

~~ ~~ ~~

Days and nights were safe,
although my mother warned me
nothing stays the same.

~~ ~~ ~~

Who were the strangers
behind the adobe walls,
plotting our demise?

~~ ~~ ~~

To be in fifth grade
is to sip from a dry brook—
your tongue turns to wood.

~~ ~~ ~~

I yearned for blue song
from throats of silver lizards
leaping at the sun.

© 2012 by Magical Mystical Teacher

More The Sunday Whirl, Wordle 82

More The Poetry Pantry #123

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Posted on November 11, 2012, in haiku, senryu, The Poetry Pantry, The Sunday Whirl. Bookmark the permalink. 25 Comments.

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Comments 25

laughwithme45 | November 11, 2012 at 8:13 am

Birdsong in our souls – sounds like that might be enough!

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poetrydiary | November 11, 2012 at 8:18 am

You can never tell
when the next phantom will come
to pounce on your soul.

I like that one!

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atob | November 11, 2012 at 8:20 am

Nice one/..Liked the last one

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Listening Daisy | November 11, 2012 at 8:50 am

I yearned for blue song
from throats of silver lizards
leaping at the sun.

I personally liked this stanza the best.

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nan | November 11, 2012 at 8:59 am

These are dark and drifty. Well done, each.

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Misky | November 11, 2012 at 9:19 am

The 5th grade haiku has be my favourite. Love that one.

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Abin | November 11, 2012 at 9:39 am

as ever, wonderful, stirring images..drawing to a striking close. fascinating stuff.

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margo roby | November 11, 2012 at 9:40 am

Ah, I have missed these. What a lovely collection to come back to.

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vivinfrance | November 11, 2012 at 9:44 am

A lovely set. I particularly like the juxtaposition of the last two.

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Green Speck | November 11, 2012 at 9:49 am

A beautiful set … so complete … loved it !!!

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brenda w | November 11, 2012 at 10:58 am

Bravo! I love each one, but my favorite is the first for its sad truth.

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1sojournal | November 11, 2012 at 11:17 am

I love each and every one. Together they describe the constant battle we wage with fear and hope. Gorgeous writing,

Elizabeth

http://soulsmusic.wordpress.com/2012/11/11/staring-into-the-future/

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Annette Mickelson | November 11, 2012 at 11:38 am

Love that last one especially.

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JulesPaige | November 11, 2012 at 12:58 pm

To be in fifth grade…I think that was around when I started writing. They say the age of reason starts when we are around seven. Perhaps I was a late bloomer?

I am also with those who find that last haiku enchanting.

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Cheryl's Excellent Adventure | November 11, 2012 at 1:11 pm

Yes, we had enough ‘birdsong in our souls’. I love your haiku wordle. As usual you always make me think.

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Stephanie | November 11, 2012 at 1:42 pm

So many juicy tidbits…I couldn’t pick a favorite.

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Laurie Kolp | November 11, 2012 at 4:11 pm

Lovely images!

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PJF Sayers | November 11, 2012 at 4:40 pm

Love the second one, mmt. A lovely collection as always. In reply to your comment on my blog, I often wonder how people who write don’t know some grammatical rules. It is perplexing to me.

Pamela

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laura hegfield | November 11, 2012 at 4:58 pm

a beautiful series!

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Daydreamertoo | November 11, 2012 at 5:25 pm

The first hits home, hard. The last, delightful imagery. Enjoyed them all.

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Grace | November 11, 2012 at 5:33 pm

What a lovely set ~ My favorite is the first one, time has no mercy ~

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Marianne | November 11, 2012 at 5:50 pm

Wonderful haiku, mmt! I love all of them, but the last is my favorite!

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Sherry Marr | November 11, 2012 at 10:09 pm

Too many wonderful lines to list – but my special favorites are “birdsong in our souls” (beautiful!), the fifth grade haiku (which is INCREDIBLE, and absolutely accurate), and your final stanza which is simply perfection. Sigh. A feast in here tonight, kiddo.

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- magicalmysticalteacher | November 11, 2012 at 10:13 pm
  
  Your comments are a feast to me! Thank you! :)
  
  Reply
ingerma | November 17, 2012 at 2:34 pm

They’re all wonderful, but “birdsong in our souls.” is also my favorite, sounds like you describe total bliss. I also like the third one, which I feel speaks of life’s uncertainty.

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