The Sun and Moon

the sun and moon

if I could choose

his first tattoo 

This is my first outing in Modern Haiku and I even made it to the 'Sample' page. It was a personal goal of mine to be published in Heron's Nest, Mayfly, and Modern Haiku. Somehow in my mind this felt like the trifecta that would prove to me that I know what I'm doing with regards to haiku. And now I've done it! 

This little ku is dedicated to my 3 sons who make my life so bright. I would give each of them the sun and the moon if I could. As it happens, my middle son's first tattoo features a crescent moon, which I like much better than the octopus tattoo he teased me about getting. My oldest son's first and probably only tattoo is the logo of the Mohican 100 Mile Trail Run which features a rising sun. He got the tattoo despite his fear of needles, after completing his 10th year and earning his 1000 mile belt buckle. My youngest son's first tattoo is a small AT for the Appalachian Trail that he hiked as a teenager, under the watchful gaze of the sun by day and the moon by night.

So this is not a "desk haiku," one that I made up in my imagination. This haiku is a bonus reward for having the privilege of raising three great human beings. Being their mom was almost as easy as falling off a log. 🤔 Hmmm, maybe there's another haiku in there somewhere. 🪵✍🏼😆

Gabe the oldest, Michael the youngest, Daniel the middlest 

cardinal call

 

I was pleased to make my debut in Wales Haiku Journal with this cardinal ku. This one came to me during the winter of 2022. For the season of Advent I went outside each morning to see the sunrise and practice Zhan Zhuang "standing like a tree," a traditional qigong stance. You stand with your feet hips distance apart facing forward and your knees slightly bent as you hold your arms in a relaxed circle as if you are holding a beach ball or hugging a tree. Then you relax your shoulders and let your elbows be lower than your wrists. The point of the exercise is to relax into the stance and allow the qi to circulate smoothly and freely through your body and to allow the qi to hold you, rather than relying on muscle strength. Easier said than done! In the picture below you may be able to see the small spruce tree I am standing in front of and the larger spruce a little further away in the woods. As I stood and breathed, I imagined exchanging qi, oxygen, and carbon dioxide with these trees who are both former Christmas trees. 

One morning as I was standing with my granddog Gus, breathing and communing, (and, on Gus's part, waiting patiently for the walk that would follow) the red pin prick of the sun came up on the horizon just as a cardinal called nearby. It was as if the cardinal summoned the sun or the sun summoned the cardinal. Either way, I was there to witness it and to respond to the summons by capturing this sacred moment with a few humble syllables. 🌲🌄♥️❄️

Photo by Kevin from the kitchen window