Small Consolations

May 10

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photo e6970a88-d8c6-4844-b5f9-4bc5fe897983_zpslaksnmhh.jpg
 
 


~~ 1 ~~
 
in a field of maize
southward seven miles or more
three marauding crows
 
~~ 2 ~~
 
puzzling over why
the brown donkey at daybreak
still sleeps in the straw
 
~~ 3 ~~
 
a Kansas farmer
still leaning into the wind
after forty years
 
~~ 4 ~~
 
planting a garden
twenty years in the same place—
corn pollen poems
 
~~ 5 ~~
 
a famished people
looking to depleted soil
for their daily bread
 
~~ 6 ~~
 
a strand of brown hair
the width of a dying breath
caught in the wren’s mouth
 
~~ 7 ~~
 
an open Bible
warning of the pestilence
that lurks at noonday
 
~~ 8 ~~
 
her longing to be
a mystic on the mountain—
no more scrubbing floors
 
~~ 9 ~~
 
her feeble attempts
to stay her wandering feet—
one more trip to Rome
 
~~ 10 ~~
 
hollow promises—
tongues clattering empty vows
on their wedding day
 
~~ 11 ~~
 
purple rebozo—
trying to ward off the chill
after the bad news
 
~~ 12 ~~
 
on the pilgrim way
consolation of ravens
and comfort of stones

 
© 2015 by Magical Mystical Teacher
 
 
More Poetry Pantry #251
 
More Sunday’s Whirligig #6

Posted on May 10, 2015, in 5-7-5, Sunday's Whirligig, The Poetry Pantry and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink. 20 Comments.

  1. nissa_loves_cats | May 10, 2015 at 7:14 am

    I particularly liked 3, 5 and 12. And 7. I know it’s hard to write haiku that leave an impression but you seem to be very good at it.

    Reply
  2. vandana | May 10, 2015 at 7:25 am

    so many different shades and particularly the one where “she” wants to ba mystic!

    Reply
  3. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) | May 10, 2015 at 7:32 am

    The pilgrim’s consolation.. That image will linger with me… But there are many gems here.

    https://brudberg.wordpress.com/2015/05/09/thyme/

    Reply
  4. Sanaa | May 10, 2015 at 7:58 am

    This is absolutely beautiful… agreed with Bjorn.. the image lingers with me as well.. 🙂
    xoxo

    Reply
  5. thotpurge | May 10, 2015 at 9:13 am

    Really like #6… the width of a dying breath..wow..

    Reply
  6. Cressida | May 10, 2015 at 10:07 am

    No 6 is stunning. No 10 made me laugh. A lot do not take marriage seriously methinks or in fact anything at all really ! Enjoyed these.

    Reply
  7. ZQ | May 10, 2015 at 10:46 am

    Your flow and choice of words is impeccable.

    Reply
  8. Sherry Blue Sky | May 10, 2015 at 11:12 am

    I love the Kansas farmer still leaning into the wind after 40 years – and – especially – the closing one, with its “consolation of ravens and comfort of stones”. Beautiful.

    Reply
  9. Sumana Roy | May 10, 2015 at 11:24 am

    nice set as always…

    Reply
  10. peggygoetz | May 10, 2015 at 3:04 pm

    I like the way you wrote a separate image poem for each word. Thanks for the words this week. I enjoy reading the different approaches each poet takes with the same words.

    Reply
  11. Mary | May 10, 2015 at 3:17 pm

    Never enough trips to Rome! One more will never do.

    Reply
  12. Donna@Living From Happiness | May 10, 2015 at 3:57 pm

    such lovely little scenarios…I hope to see the wren soon making a nest.

    Reply
  13. totomai | May 10, 2015 at 4:25 pm

    of hardships and victories..

    Reply
  14. oldegg | May 10, 2015 at 6:36 pm

    They all have a fascination but for me “the strand of brown hair..caught in the wrens mouth” was sublime, the poem being softened by not using beak (a harder word) in the third line.

    Reply
  15. Mr. Walker | May 10, 2015 at 8:48 pm

    Always enjoyable to read your haiku. The mystic is my favorite.

    Reply
  16. Susan | May 10, 2015 at 9:28 pm

    This grouping with its sharp images, is more thematic than usual, I think, as all of its durations lead to a kind of futility and longing for meaning. The crows have it best at the beginning. Then we all sort of lean into the wind for the comfort of stones. Quite brilliant and despairing!

    Reply
  17. Brother Ollie | May 11, 2015 at 11:29 am

    solid collection fellow teacher!

    Reply
  18. hypercryptical | May 12, 2015 at 1:56 am

    I really like these, a brilliant collection!
    Anna :o]

    Reply
  19. Jae Rose | May 12, 2015 at 6:48 am

    The brown hair in the wrens mouth suddenly pounced out…i suppose a pilgrims way is never easy and we must take comfort in what we can

    Reply
  20. glmeisner | May 12, 2015 at 7:48 pm

    Another brilliant set.

    Reply

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