senryu - frost

make-up glitters
like frost on her face -
nightclub Ice Queen.


for a different perspective on the theme, read my tanka on Crafty Green Poet.

frost for One Deep Breath.

haiku - belonging

at the gig -
everyone knows the words
to all the songs


I also belong here

Belonging for One Deep Breath

(If you like writing haiku, you may be interested in the Haiku Broken Telephone Game)

haiku recipe

cheese and onion
baked in a pastry case -
serve with potatoes.


haiku recipe for One Deep Breath

haiku - Grandparents

Sunday at Grandma's -
playing with the colours
in her button box.


Grandparents for One Deep Breath

haiku - Tiny Pretty Things

diamonds sparkle -
my eyes always drawn
to your earlobes.


And more on Crafty Green Poet

tiny pretty things for One Deep Breath

haiku - daybreak

my alarm clock
shatters quiet sleep -
day breaks.

For a quieter daybreak, please visit Crafty Green Poet.

Daybreak for One Deep Breath


PS - Haiku Scotland recently accepted five of my haiku to appear in their September and December 2007 issues.

This Evening

This evening I went to my first show in the 2007 Edinburgh Festival Fringe - Flesh.

slave traders
steal a boy from his village -
darkness falls.

Through song, dance and drama, Flesh explores the personal stories of David an African slave in eighteenth century London, the people he meets and their opinions about slavery. The stories are powerfully moving, but ultimately hopeful. Parallels with current issues are clearly, but subtly drawn. It's a very energetic production with excellent performances, dancing, singing and drumming from the young cast and muscians, though the acoustics and straining spoken performances mean that some of the narrative is lost.

Flesh is on at St John's Church, Lothian Road, 7.30pm, 7-11 August. £7/£5.


Evening for One Deep Breath.
I've posted another evening haiku on Crafty Green Poet.

haiku - compare and contrast

the trombonist
plays her first solo -
dogs howl outside.


Compare and Contrast for One Deep Breath.
I've posted another compare and contrast haiku on Crafty Green Poet here.

haiku - comfort

bad news
in an airmail letter -
a loving hug.

******************************

flood waters
outside the village hall -
mugs of coffee.


Comfort for One Deep Breath

Haiku - Bodies of Water

mostly water -
I still ebb and flow
with the tides.


Bodies of Water for One Deep Breath

More Bodies of Water on Crafty Green Poet here and here.

haiku - the sea

ocean waves inside
swell carries me, salt tanged
to break on your shore


the sea for One Deep Breath

One line haiku

the space between us on the dance-floor

*************************************

midnight waking to an Italian aria

*************************************

one line haiku for One Deep Breath

Haiku

I never wear makeup, even when I'm out clubbing. But for a subtle hint of glamour, you can't beat glitter.

On the dancefloor -
glittery skin shimmers
under the lights.


Subtle changes for One Deep Breath.

haiku - storms

Thunder crashes -
downstairs the sound of neighbours
fighting


Storms for One Deep Breath

Haiku - containers

a black and gold box
lined with dark plush velvet –
a silver necklace


black velvet purse
on a string round my neck –
cash safe when dancing.

More haiku on containers on Crafty Green Poet.

containers for One Deep Breath.

Haiku - senses

brush fingers against
the dark nap of velvet –
black cat on my knee.


silver bracelet
glints in the candlelight –
one red rose.


red wine
warm in the mouth –
sweet conversation.


sensual scents -
patchouli oil and jasmine
hang in the air.


conversation
blends with the music –
dancing feet.


Senses for One Deep Breath

Renga

One Deep Breath this week challenges us to write a renga, a collaborative poem from the Japanese tradition. Alter Ego has been very adventurous and has collaborated with her old friend Crafty Green Poet to give us:

starry sky and moon
above the sleeping city –
frost sparkles on paths.

inside we dance until dawn
all dressed in glamorous clothes.


Renga, including very long ones, are very popular with some poets in Scotland. There an interesting article at:
http://www.slainte.org.uk/publications/serials/infoscot/vol2(1)/patterns.html

Haiku - windows and doorways

On One Deep Breath this week we are asked to write haiku about windows or doorways:

your blue eyes
full of gentleness and love -
windows on your soul.

Tanka

On One Deep Breath this week we are asked to write a tanka. A tanka is a Japanese poetic form often written in the form of five lines with syllable counts of 5.7.5.7.7 though as with haiku the syllable count doesn't need to be strictly followed, though short, long, short, long long is to be preferred. Tanka often link the natural world with personal emotional reflections. This is only the second ever tanka I've written:

the shortening days

and long gloomy autumn nights

hibernation

I snuggle under blankets

to write poetry all day.

Haiku - solitude

This week's prompt on One Deep Breath is Solitude. This is my haiku:

snow in the churchyard
behind a wrought iron gate –
woman in black.