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Skirling
I have attempted to “revise” this charming haiku by Basho:
Won’t you come and see
loneliness? Just one leaf
from the kiri tree.
~~ ~~ ~~
in a single leaf
little airs of loneliness
skirling in the light
Haiku in bold and photo © 2015 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Macro Monday 2
More Carpe Diem: “My Favorite Haiku by Basho”
Thunder
the shadows lengthen
a butterfly lifts its wings—
afternoon thunder
Text and photo © 2015 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Carpe Diem: “Basho’s ‘Butterflies'”
More Haiku My Heart at Recuerda Mi Corazon
Far

Iron wheel on farm equipment, Rancho Los Alamitos, Long Beach, California
How far we have come
from the land of stones and thorns—
how far yet to go!
Text and photo © 2015 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Haiku Horizons: “Thorn”
More Carpe Diem: “Adjei Agyei Baah’s ‘Stones'”
Bouquet

A tile mosaic in the courtyard at Rancho Los Alamitos, Long Beach, California
in a crimson vase
a bouquet of wildflowers
still holding their leaves
Text and photo © 2015 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Blue Monday
More Ruby Tuesday Too
More Our World Tuesday
More Carpe Diem: “Leaves”
Stillness

A shady garden path at Rancho Los Alamitos, Long Beach, California
such stillness
between the shadows
and the light
~~ ~~ ~~
The weary seek a resting place.
Text and photo © 2015 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Six-Word Saturday
More Shadow Shot Sunday 2
More Carpe Diem: “On the Trail with Basho: Encore 4”
Summer

One of the gardens at Rancho Los Alamitos, Long Beach, California
rancho garden stew—
summer’s earthy fragrances
simmer in the pot
Text and photo © 2015 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Blue Monday
More Our World Tuesday
More Shadow Shot Sunday 2
More Carpe Diem: “Arrival of Summer”
Addled

Forgotten garden gloves, Rancho Los Alamitos, Long Beach, California
addled gardener
dropping her gloves in the path
as the wild goose calls
~~ ~~ ~~
gloves—no hands to fill them
Text and photo © 2015 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Six-Word Saturday
More Shadow Shot Sunday 2
More Carpe Diem: “Basho’s ‘To Hear the Wild Goose'”
Accent

Old adobe ranch house, Rancho Los Alamitos, Long Beach, California
the ranch house garden—
only a few white blossoms
to accent the red
~~ ~~ ~~
A rain of blossoms brings joy.
Text and photo © 2015 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Ruby Tuesday Too
More Six-Word Saturday
More Shadow Shot Sunday 2
More Carpe Diem: “Basho’s ‘White Blossoms'”
Life

Iron wheel on farm equipment, Rancho Los Alamitos, Long Beach, California
a moment
of divinity
in one’s self
~~ ~~ ~~
Life keeps rolling on and on.
Text and photo © 2015 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Six-Word Saturday
More Shadow Shot Sunday 2
More Carpe Diem: “God Realization”
Butterfly
“I hear America singing,” Walt Whitman wrote, “the varied carols I hear.”
I too hear singing, but instead of coming from throats of carpenters, masons or boatmen, it comes from sky and star and stone. It comes from weeds and wind and wild things. It comes from crow and cricket and cottonwood. It is the singing of the Desert Southwest, and like the Siren songs that seduced Odysseus and his companions, I cannot ignore it.
I hear it as I help a student proofread her essay. I hear it while I confer with a parent about his son’s behavior. I hear it while I am grading papers.
At day’s end, I slip into comfortable clothing and walk into the nearby wilderness. The stones and weeds and dust greet me with rejoicing. They knew I would come.
the shadows lengthen
a butterfly lifts its wings—
my house is too small
Text and photo © 2015 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Macro Monday 2
More I Heart Macro at Shine the Divine
More Carpe Diem: “Kala Ramesh’s ‘Taking Flight'”