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Summers

Detail from a Huichol tapestry, Museo Zacatecano, Zacatecas, México
too many summers
since her man took the night train—
plum scent in the wind
Haiku © 2016 and photo © 2012 by Magical Mystical Teacher
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More Macro Monday 2
Scent

Nuns waiting for a bus, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, México, February 2014
waiting for a bus
the lonely scent of winter
mingles with their prayers
Haiku © 2016 and photo © 2014 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Ruby Tuesday Too
Tangled

Palo verde tree, Sonoran Desert, Southern Arizona
in tangled places
where no weary foot dares tread—
the scent of danger
Haiku and photo © 2015 by Magical Mystical Teacher
Hidden

Autumn afternoon, Sonoran Desert, Southern Arizona
ten thousand tulips
hidden somewhere in the sand
along with their scent
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
autumn afternoon
darting into the shadows
a terrified mouse
Haiku and photo © 2015 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More SkyWatch Friday
More Carpe Diem: “Tulip Festival”
More Carpe Diem: “Movement in Haiku”
Tanka Times Three

From this week’s smorgasbord of words, I have chosen: free, dash, flee, threat, scent, try
~~ 1 ~~
birth pangs at midnight
the poem in my belly
kicking to be free—
the dash to my writing desk
for a quick delivery
~~ 2 ~~
ravenous turtle
lumbering through the garden—
terrified gnats flee
from the threat of extinction
deep in the turtle’s gullet
~~ 3 ~~
From phantom kitchens
voluptuous scents erupt
over the city—
sniffing at the fragrant air,
I try to quell my hunger.
© 2015 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More The Sunday Whirl, Wordle 217
Screen

Detail of a screen door
tantalizing flies—
the scent of sugar syrup
seeping through the screen
Haiku and photo © 2015 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Carpe Diem: “Screen Door or Window Screen”
Dreaming

El Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, Santa Fe, New Mexico
even in half-light
still dreaming of the manger
and the scent of hay
Text and photo © 2014 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Carpe Diem: “First Light”
More Sunday Scribblings 2: “Manger”
More Twelve Days of Mary at Recuerda Mi Corazon: Day 7
Cleft

The Citadel, Wupatki National Monument, Northern Arizona
The cleft affords a grand view.
high country morning—
through a cleft in the stone wall
the scent of campfires
Text and photo © 2014 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Shadow Shot Sunday 2
More Carpe Diem: “Inspired by Buson”
More Six-Word Saturday at Show My Face
Lunchtime

Insect on a yucca plant, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas
ravenous insect
lying in wait for its lunch—
the scent of ichor
Text and photo © 2014 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Macro Monday 2
More Carpe Diem: “Issa’s ‘Skylight'”
More I Heart Macro at Shine the Divine
Variations on ‘Caged Bird’

Each little poem-breath begins with a phrase purloined from Maya Angelou’s “Caged Bird.” Maya Angelou died on 28 May 2014.
~~ 1 ~~
On the grave of dreams
place a thousand paving stones—
let no wraiths escape.
~~ 2 ~~
the fat worms waiting
as the tractor keeps plowing—
hundred-acre field
~~ 3 ~~
on the distant hill
a fireworks launch at bedtime
children ooh and ah
~~ 4 ~~
the back of the wind
carrying a pungent scent
through my open door
~~ 5 ~~
with a fearful trill
and flapping of sturdy wings
cormorant nabs fish
~~ 6 ~~
Through the sighing trees
a lean and fluid roebuck
flees the hunter’s bow.
~~ 7 ~~
Till the current ends,
I have no need to propel
my raft with a pole.
~~ 8 ~~
He opens his throat,
spilling out jovial notes,
gracing all who hear.
~~ 9 ~~
Through his bars of rage
he glimpses freedom’s terrain—
one breath out of reach.
~~ 10 ~~
In the orange sun
seven crows chase each other,
crying raucously.
~~ 11 ~~
of another breeze
piping countless melodies—
why the caged bird sings
© 2014 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Poetry Pantry #204
More The Sunday Whirl, Wordle 163