Blog Archives
Wastelands
Spines and stones in Pinal County, Arizona
in praise of wastelands
she walks a dusty footpath
making up new songs
Haiku and photo © 2018 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Midweek Motif at Poets United: “A Tribute Poem”
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Haiku My Heart: Chances
What are the chances
that any stone on the path
will rise up and sing?
Haiku and photo © 2017 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More SkyWatch Friday
More Shadow Shot Sunday 2
Scolding
Rugged mountains near Ajo, Arizona
Crow on the mountain,
don’t you ever grow weary
of scolding the stones?
Haiku and photo © 2017 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More SkyWatch Friday
More Midweek Motif at Poets United: “Nature: Her Words”
Desolate
Yuma Conservation Garden, Yuma, Arizona
Desolate places—
something akin to wisdom
lingers in the stones.
Haiku and photo © 2017 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More SkyWatch Friday
More Haiku My Heart at Recuerda Mi Corazon
Books
A boulder surrounded by birdsong in a remote location, Apache County, Arizona
Some books I found in passing
Contained disturbing words:
The end is near, they seemed to say,
Pay heed to stones and birds;
For in this warming climate,
Where things are changing fast,
Not even stones and blackbirds
Have stamina to last.
Poem © 2017 and photo © 2011 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More SkyWatch Friday
More Midweek Motif at Poets United: “Books”
Wind
A stone-lined pathway at Wupatki National Monument, Northern Arizona
power of the wind—
reducing stones to rubble
one grain at a time
Haiku © 2016 and photo © 2014 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Midweek Motif at Poets United: “Wind Power”
Commitment
Wedding at Guadalupe, Zacatecas, Mexico
their marital bliss
painted with commitment’s brush
outlasting the stones
Poem © 2016 and photo © 2012 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Midweek Motif at Poets United: “Commitment”
Secrets
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Southern California
How many secrets
are lurking under the stones?
Who can flush them out?
Text and photo © 2016 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More SkyWatch Friday
More Midweek Motif at Poets United: “Secrecy”
Departures
Each breath-of-a-poem begins with a phrase purloined from A Year in the World: Journeys of a Passionate Traveller by Frances Mayes.
~~ 1 ~~
a smooth departure—
bathed in early morning light
she lifts her suitcase
~~ 2 ~~
Holding a suitcase
packed with troubles and sorrows
she limps down the street.
~~ 3 ~~
shops lining the street—
she stops to ask one seller
the price of his plums
~~ 4 ~~
in a secret house
made of stones from the river
little nests of mice
~~ 5 ~~
searching for a house
where fiery beings shimmer
in the crevices
~~ 6 ~~
Near the kitchen door
a spray of yellow roses
brightens the cook’s day.
~~ 7 ~~
into the same pot
tossing seeds and stars and stones—
old kitchen magic
~~ 8 ~~
a tiny corner table
the merest squirt of mustard
to spice up her meal
~~ 9 ~~
Light rakes the water
as old men reeling in fish
laugh at their good luck.
~~ 10 ~~
as a dark presence
ready to strike passersby—
the coiled garden hose
~~ 11 ~~
In their narrow cells
the monks begin each morning
with prayers learned by heart.
Haiku © 2016 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Poetry Pantry #291
More Sunday’s Whirligig #48
Songs
An outdoor altar at El Santuario de Chimayo, Chimayo, New Mexico
first days of the year—
a singer wakes up humming
songs he learned from stones
Haiku © 2016 and photo © 2015 by Magical Mystical Teacher
