30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 10

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To Autumn by William Blake

O Autumn, laden with fruit, and stain’d
With the blood of the grape, pass not, but sit
Beneath my shady roof; there thou may’st rest,
And tune thy jolly voice to my fresh pipe,
And all the daughters of the year shall dance!
Sing now the lusty song of fruits and flowers.

‘The narrow bud opens her beauties to
The sun, and love runs in her thrilling veins;
Blossoms hang round the brows of Morning, and
Flourish down the bright cheek of modest Eve,
Till clust’ring Summer breaks forth into singing,
And feather’d clouds strew flowers round her head.

‘The spirits of the air live in the smells
Of fruit; and Joy, with pinions light, roves round
The gardens, or sits singing in the trees.’
Thus sang the jolly Autumn as he sat,
Then rose, girded himself, and o’er the bleak
Hills fled from our sight; but left his golden load.

What are you thankful for today?
I am thankful for autumn, my favourite season and the joy it gives me.

I woke up this morning, the air was fresh, cool breeze and dark time. Fog all over our garden, children on their bikes, waiting for each other to go to school. Summer is over, children are cheerful with their back packs. The wind whispering as crispy leaves fall from trees, heaps of gold, brown and red on the ground. It’s also time for harvest, our grapes by our front door and the two apple trees at the back. There was not a lot of harvest this year, enough to stew the apples for apple crumble and pies, and the grapes for some juice. We are very grateful for the produce. It’s also the time to take some of our plants, like olives, banana and palm plants in the house, as well as our pet tortoises. No more garden paradise for them. They are staying in with us.

autumn like a dream
when the wind brushes the leaves
fairy tale that weaves

kids back to school
cheerful to see each other
summer is over

harvesting apples
crisp copper leaves falling off
chilling the air

(c) ladyleemila 2016

For: 30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 10

Gates of Hell

traffic

Welcome to the gates of hell, my city where I spend 3 to 4 hours of traffic gridlock with the rest of thousands of commuters, in the heat of around 34 degrees. The few elevated train lines that ply major routes in Metro Manila become packed like sardines, especially during morning and afternoon rush hours. Manila, where the stench of Pasig River, the rubbish on the streets, the thickest smog and the slum areas tells us teeming poverty is thriving and people go their normal ways. Where I don’t feel safe, as pickpockets roam the city and corruption is widespread. Where my home could be broken and things stolen. Manila, where I keep coming back.

Manila, my home
Poverty, traffic like hell
But life goes on

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: Haibun Monday # 23 – contemporary cityscape by Björn Rudberg (brudberg)

Heeding Haiku With Chèvrefeuille October 12th 2016 autumn leaves

I woke up this morning, the air was fresh, cool breeze and dark time. Fog all over our garden, children on their bikes, waiting for each other to go to school. Summer is over, children are cheerful with their back packs. The wind whispering as crispy leaves fall from trees, heaps of gold, brown and red on the ground. It’s also time for harvest, our grapes by our front door and the two apple trees at the back. There was not a lot of harvest this year, enough to stew the apples for apple crumble and pies, and the grapes for some juice. We are very grateful for the produce. It’s also the time to take some of our plants, like olives, banana and palm plants in the house, as well as our pet tortoises. No more garden paradise for them. They are staying in with us.

autumn like a dream
when the wind brushes the leaves
fairy tale that weaves

kids back to school
cheerful to see each other
summer is over

harvesting apples
crisp copper leaves falling off
chilling the air

(c) ladyleemila 2016

For: Heeding Haiku With Chèvrefeuille October 12th 2016 autumn leaves

Oasis of Peace

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The oasis of serenity when everything’s at peace. Blue sky with cotton like clouds, calm sea, green grass and trees and the island across my bench. Birds flying and singing above me, ah, this is heaven! The joy of being here, the freedom I feel of love and happiness. This is my favourite place when I want to be alone and commune with nature, when I want to say thanks for all the blessing that I have or when I want to drown my sorrow and pain, leave them here and move on with life. This is where I can find my peace, to remain whole and to be free. I may not be perfect, but this place is pure bliss.

Oasis of peace
Feeling of love and delight
Sitting on the bench

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: Heeding Haiku With Chèvrefeuille September 28th 2016 Imagine That Haibun

Heeding Haiku With Chèvrefeuille September 14th 2016 departure

departure

We’ve almost made it. But not really. Such a shame. If only I could turned back the clock and stayed the way we were, I would. I almost did it – turned back the clock. But it was pointless. What was done was done, what was said was said, what was broken remained broken. Everything happened for a reason. The thing was, we’ve almost done it, almost surpassed the hurdles and challenges that came our way, almost ignored the pain that was hurting, almost crossed the finish line at the end. Oh well, it wasn’t meant to be…

you promised not to leave
but one day you were all gone
and left me crying

For: Heeding Haiku With Chèvrefeuille September 14th 2016 departure

Heeding Haiku With Chèvrefeuille August 31 2016 colourful leaves

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It has been a wonderful summer this year. The flowers bloomed, all varieties, birds built their nests, butterflies, bees and hedgehogs visited our garden and the pet tortoises were happy eating their lettuces and dandelions. We were able to cycle to different parks, watched the ducks and geese had their little ones growing. We were also able to swim in the lake, met friends and had barbeque in the garden.

departing summer
enough cycling and swimming
back to daily life

end of summer
getting cold at nights
leaves are turning red

goodbye summer
we’ll always remember you
come back next year

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: Heeding Haiku With Chèvrefeuille August 31 2016 colorful leaves

Haibun Monday: The Sky IS the Limit

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The day after the son’s wedding, we visited London. The sky was hazy and sombre grey and the clouds soothed it with charcoal whirls. The London Eye provided a sturdy background in slow motion. The movement of the clouds was barely distinctive and the birds wheeled in slow lazy arcs. Above the busy city, the honking of cars and the strolling people, the sober grey sky cloaked the world. Such a malevolent sky with clouds an impermeable carpet of translucent greyish blue, cold, vast.

Cold and grey today
Just the right time to visit
Glad it didn’t rain

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: Haibun Monday by hayesspencer

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Heeding Haiku With Chèvrefeuille August 17th 2016 … a summer tale

They met at the university. They were doing the same course. Two different people with different upbringing, culture, tradition and religion. They didn’t hinder them to fall in love with each other. And so after they finished their course and Masters, he proposed to her and she accepted. We all gave our blessings and weddings were planned, one in each country of origin. And we were all pleased to be part of these celebrations. May they spend many years of love and happiness together!

their first dance
they looked at each other’s eyes
loving each moment

to have and to hold
with Thaali, garlands and love
till death do they part

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

 

For: Heeding Haiku With Chèvrefeuille August 17th 2016 … a summer tale

shuuchuugouu (しゅうちゅうごうう)

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Rain has always been a part of us Filipinos. We only have two seasons – wet (June to November) and dry (December to May) seasons, depending on the amount of rainfall. This is also dependent on location, as some areas experience rain all throughout the year. I remembered our typhoon season, when it rained for days on end. From July to October, we have “bagyo” or tropical cyclones in the islands. We usually stay indoors, keep ourselves dry and listen to the sounds of the wind and the pouring rain. Some places would be flooded. Some days, classes and offices are suspended.

Listen to the rain
Playing bowling in heaven
When typhoon strikes

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: Haibun Monday: 50 Shades of Rain by hayesspencer

Heeding Haiku With Chèvrefeuille June 8th 2016

First autumn morning
the mirror I stare into
shows my father’s face.

© Murakami Kijo*

*) Kijo Murakami (1865-1938). Murakami Kijo, the Haiku poet, was born in Edo in 1865, and moved to Takasaki city in 1873. He was in sympathy with Masaoka Shiki and joined his group to publish the first edition of ‘Hototogisu’, the famous Haiku magazine. He published the collection of Kijo in 1917. He was a highly esteemed poet both within the prefecture and nationally. He died on September 17th, 1938 at the age of 73.

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People say I look like my Dad and I’m proud of it. As I grew up, I noticed the similarities, not just physically, but also his character. He worked hard all his life and I think I got that industriousness as well as his sense of responsibility. I’m also generous to a fault and has a very positive attitude in life.

Oh how I miss my Dad. Wish he was still here with us. Wish he was one of us celebrating the wedding of HRH the son to his beautiful K. Wish he was there to meet all the families and friends from different parts of the world. Wish he was there giving a toast to his grandson.

I look like my Dad
Wish he was still with us
Missing him so much

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: Heeding Haiku With Chèvrefeuille June 8th 2016