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Voice of Silver
Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis), Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Southern California.
From the children’s nursery comes a Silver Voice:
“The Willow Tree seems lost now, and you have no choice
But to seek until you find her, seek both near and far,
Seek beneath the stump and boulder, seek where dragons are.
Do not let unrest dissuade you from the task at hand.
Courage, sister! Courage, brother! Don’t you understand
That skies and stars and planets all depend on you?
Gird yourselves with courage, and do what you must do!
Destroy fierce Dragon Burdock that threatens Willow’s ways;
Then, with all things great and small, in peace live out your days.”
We hear you, Voice of Silver, we hear you, Voice of Old;
With courage as our mantle, we’ll do as we are told.
Poem © 2018 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Sunday’s Whirligig #185
More Poetry Pantry #426 at Poets United
Leafless
Remains of a dead Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis), Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Southern California
Seeking a new home,
even the dove passes by
the leafless willow.
Haiku © 2016 and photo © 2015 by Magical Mystical Teacher
Name
Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis), Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Southern California
no sign of tears
to prove your name
weeping willow
perhaps the wind has dried them
or a hundred days of sun
*Opening gambit © by Adjei Agyei-Baah
Final two lines © 2015 and photo © 2013 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Carpe Diem Special #157: “Adjei Agyei-Baah’s Haiku”
Wearisome
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Southern California
long and wearisome
the way to burning mountain
no willow for shade
Text and photo © 2015 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Our World Tuesday
More Carpe Diem: “Weeping Willow”
Shrine
Remains of a dead Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis), Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Southern California
stripped of every leaf
willow in the wilderness—
desolation’s shrine
Text and photo © 2014 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Our World Tuesday
More Carpe Diem: “Shiki’s ‘The Cuckoo’s Cry'”
Candent Days
Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis), Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Southern California
Even candent days
cannot drive the willow leaves
from their homing place—
a resurrected donkey
nibbles tender shoots and stems.
Text and photo © 2013 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More SkyWatch Friday
More Ein Stück Himmel
More Carpe Diem: “Magical Mystical Teacher’s ‘Even Candent Days'”
Lamentation
shedding summer skin
willow floats downstream
reflecting season’s end*
a fading chrysanthemum
takes up the lamentation
*Haiku by Maggie Grace of “Falling into Me”
Final two lines © 2013 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Carpe Diem Tan Renga: “Shedding Summer Skin”
Embracing
Dead Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis), Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Southern California
one tattered willow
embracing the wilderness—
crow tries to explain
Text and photo © 2013 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Blue Monday
More SkyWatch Friday
More Carpe Diem: “Embracing”
More Haiku My Heart at Recuerda Mi Corazon
Willow
Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis), Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Southern California
Even candent days
cannot drive the willow leaves
from their homing place.
Text and photo © 2013 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Blue Monday
More Carpe Diem: “Willow Leaves Fall”
