2013 has been really hectic -- but I did manage to send entries to my favourite Shiki haiku kukai. I am posting all of those entries here. Also, the ones I sent for the newly started Indian kukai.



twilight chaos:
silently
a star swims into view

for the Jan 2013 Shiki Kigo kukai "First Calm"


winter night:
the withered tree
festooned with stars

for the Feb 2013 Shiki Kigo kukai "Withered plants"


at peace
in the sweltering heat:
a buffalo covered in mud !

for the Feb 2013 Shiki free format kukai "Cover"


barefoot --
the warmth
of the sun-kissed steps

for the Jun 2013 Shiki Kigo kukai "Barefoot"


thunderclap --
the snail
retreats into its shell

for the Jun 2013 Shiki free format kukai "Shell"


first kiss --
sunset clouds
blush crimson

for the Jul 2013 Shiki Kigo kukai "Evening Glow"


afternoon tea --
... memories scented
with orange peel

for the Sep 2013 Shiki free format kukai "Orange / Tangerine"


a frog jumps
into the night sky:
the Milky Way quivers ...

for the Sep 2013 Shiki Kigo kukai "Milky Way"


open window:
memories enter
on the wings of an old song

for the Sep 2013 Indian Kukai "Music"


slicing through darkness --
the express train
zips past ...

for the Nov 2013 Indian Kukai "Light"


morning chill ...
once again late
for the school bus

for the Nov 2013 Shiki Kigo kukai "Morning Chill"


steady downpour:
a raindrop hops
from puddle to puddle

for the Nov 2013 Shiki free format "Puddle"


Christmas eve:
a new star rises
in the river of Heaven

for the Dec 2013 Shiki Kigo kukai "Holidays or celebrations in December"

cityscape at night:
glistening crosswords
of shadows and light

for the "Windows" theme free format Shiki Monthly Kukai, January 2013.

First of all, a very Happy New Year ! I haven't been posting regularly for sometime now. I have been busy trying to get back to the joys and pressures of a full-time job. I will try to be more regular.

Just thought I should write about what haiku means to me. For a professional who chose to stay at home till her child was old enough for full-time school, haiku gave me an outlet to actually try my hand at something new. I have always loved to read English literature and poetry. I love reading haiku and am amazed at how vivid a picture can be painted in just a few syllables. I have tried to participate in the Shiki Monthly Kukai and Sketchbook Haiku kukai whenever I can. The Editors of these kukai have always been encouraging with their occasional comments – these make me continue to try writing haiku.


first daffodil:
decisively ends
winter drought of colours

for the Sept 2012 Shiki monthly kukai kigo topic : “Drought”


on our backs
watching clouds:
camel swallows dragon !

for the Sept 2012 Shiki monthly kukai free format topic : “cloud shapes”


winter solstice:
a flock of sparrows
huddle in the cold

for the Dec 2012 shiki monthly kukai kigo topic : “winter solstice”


Recently, one of the Shiki Kukai Editors, Robert Bauer, passed away and I wrote this haiku in his memory as part of the December 2012 Shiki Monthly Kukai (free format topic : “departing”) :


wilted roses:
... the room
still fragrant !


Perhaps the Editors of these kukai do not realize how much joy these haiku kukai bring to the participants. I, for one, wanted to acknowledge this – and hence, this blog.

billowing clouds:
the sunflower still
looks for the sun

Third place tie in the "clouds" kukai, May/June 2012 issue of Sketchbook Haiku

billowing clouds:
a buttlerfly flits
from one patch of sun to another


Also submitted for the "clouds" kukai, May/June 2012 issue of Sketchbook Haiku

Image from willowhousechronicles.files.wordpress.com

Longing...

the lone tree
wonders about the mysteries
of other shores ...

the weary ship
wonders what it would be like
to be still ...


First place in the May / June 30, 2012 Poem This Picture Contest in Sketchbook Haiku

day moon --
she wonders if it will be
a girl or boy ...

for the Shiki Monthly Kukai, June 2012, Free format topic: "Day moon"


Image: from fanpop.com

pink, purple and blue arches
with splashes of glitter:
toddler's rainbow


her tears dry up
rainbows sparkle in her eyes:
new box of crayons

for the International Kukai June 2012, Topic: rainbow

Rainbow drawing by my 6-yr old daughter -- my inspiration for the haiku ...

spring thunder:
a lily pad trembles
... amidst liquid clouds


a frog jumps:
startled koi
scurry in the shallows


for the Showcase Haiku Haijin, Sketchbook, March/April 2012 issue



dragonfly summer:
shards of colour
flit across the pond

chosen as part of Editor John Daleiden's choices as well as part of Guest Editor Bernard Gieske's choices from the "pond life" haiku thread, Sketchbook March/April 2012 issue.


Image taken from 123rf.com

following the footsteps
of the spring breeze --
scattered petals


Asahi Shimbun (20 April 2012 issue)

spring storm:
a large raindrop
scatters the tadpoles ...

for the March 2012 "Spring" kigo Shiki Monthly Kukai


daybreak !
still reflecting on
what could have been ...

for the March 2012 "Dream / Reverie" free format theme Shiki Monthly Kukai

dragonfly summer:
shards of colour
flit across the pond

sunbathing:
a stack of turtles
keels over!

a waterstrider
and its image
waltz in unison

after the storm:
... a koi fish peeks
from behind a lily pad

for the Sketchbook Mar/Apr 2012 "pond life" haiku thread

the daffodil
nods at its reflection—
waters of spring

First place in the "waters of spring" kukai, Sketchbook Jan/Feb 2012


purple cascade
rivulets of violets:
waters of spring

Also, for the "waters of spring" kukai, Sketchbook Jan/Feb 2012

Image from http://www.somethingaboutclairey.co.uk

lingering cold:
she paints the flame
a brighter yellow !

the answering machine
yet again:
... lingering cold

for the Shiki Monthly Kukai Feb 2012

blackout:
suddenly we see
a shooting star !

meteor shower:
I try to wish away
the clouds overhead

for the Shiki Monthly Kukai Feb 2012

Violets ...

Nothing heralds the coming of Spring as do flowers. Every tree sports a fresh green look adorned with buds and joy fills one's heart ...

Spring is coming, Thou art come !
-- Wordsworth in "To the Celandine"


"From her feet the ground sloped sharply into view, and violets ran down in rivulets and streams and cataracts, irrigating the hillside with blue, eddying round the tree stems, collecting into pools in the hollows, covering the grass with spots of azure foam. But never again were they in such profusion; this terrace was the well-head, the primal source whence beauty gushed out to water the earth."

-- E.M. Forster in "A room with a view"


cascades of violets
dot the countryside:
footsteps of Spring ...

for the "footsteps" Caribbean Kigo Kukai

Falling leaves and reveries .....

flurry of green and gold:
a kitten gambols
in a heap of autumn leaves

autumn contemplation...
a butterfly's shadow
brushes past mine

newly single:
she watches autumn leaves
drift apart ...

autumn lamplight:
she looks for solace
in the warm flame

long night—
the whirring of the fan
cuts into my thoughts

for Sketchbook Haiku Sep/Oct 2011 issue

Image from gardening.sheknows.com

sunbeams bounce off
blue-green bamboo:
mosaic of light and shadow

(for the Caribbean Kigo Kukai #29)

Image from wallpapers-diq.com

Festival of lights ...

Jerome K. Jerome is easily one of my most favourite authors of all time -- I can copiously quote from "Three Men in a Boat" -- almost verbatim, even though my memory is typically only a few kilobytes when it comes to remembering anything of consequence. Well, the festival of lights -- Deepavali -- just brought to mind a passage from this book:


"We are creatures of the sun, we men and women. We love light and life. ... In the sunlight -- in the daytime, when Nature is alive and busy all around us, we like the open hill-sides and the deep woods well enough: but in the night, when our Mother Earth has gone to sleep, and left us waking, oh! the world seems so lonesome, and we get frightened, like children in a silent house. Then we sit and sob, and long for the gas-lit streets, and the sound of human voices, and the answering throb of human life. We feel so helpless and so little in the great stillness, when the dark trees rustle in the night-wind. There are so many ghosts about, and their silent sighs make us feel so sad. Let us gather together in the great cities, and light huge bonfires of a million gas-jets, and shout and sing and feel brave."

Well, it is still valid in this day and age! One can relate to what he says -- from early childhood, we learn to look for the moon in the sky. And, mothers all around the world can testify to its remarkable ability to calm down wailing infants.

As the moon waxes, the night sky is brighter and our moods are uplifted. When we are gloomy, the new moon weighs us down and we long for it to grow again and comfort us. Most of our festivals are celebrated on new moon days -- perhaps to improve our spirits ! Deepavali -- the festival of lights -- is celebrated on a Krishnapaksha Chathurdashi (meaning the fourteenth day in the waning phase) -- the day before the new moon.

Deepavali literally means row of lamps. Earthern lamps (known as Ahal Vilakku in Tamil) used to be the norm about four decades back -- now traditions have grown to include new technology. Strings of colourful electric lights adorn the outside of most homes. Earthern lamps are still used, but are now hand-painted. I was proud to see my five-year old decorate a few with glitter pens (you can see them in the collage). She was also happy to colour the kolams. The floating candles enchanted her the most, though. Her eyes lit up on seeing them and she insisted on switching off all the lights to enjoy them better. I actually succeeded in my attempt to make a traditional milk cake and the nada pakodas I made were nice and crisp -- it is amazing how some constructive comments from your daughter can make you attempt new recipes. It certainly reminded me of all the bhakshanams Amma used to make for Deepavali. Fireworks are the highlight of this festival -- for the most part of the week, the night sky sparkled and resonated in a riot of colours and sounds.


each day
the stars come out
a little earlier ...

(Asahi Shimbun Oct 21, 2011 issue)

after the fireworks display
the night sky --
a lot darker

cherry blossoms
erupt everywhere:
the heart hopes again ...


submitted for the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival 2011 Haiku Invitational.


I wrote this in early April this year, while reflecting on the dignified way in which the Japanese dealt with the tsunami and earthquakes in their country. The cherry blossoms, to me, are a symbol of resilience -- an inspiration in tough times ... and a reassuring sight after a bleak winter.


Image from flower-picspot.blogspot.com

Starry skies ...

starry night:
... somehow we end up
holding hands

(Fourth place tie in the "starry night" kukai, Sketchbook Jul/Aug 2011)


starry night:
stumbling over
an old tree stump


as the oars
dip into the starry night—
soft shimmering ripples


(also for the "starry night" kukai, Sketchbook Jul/Aug 2011)



Image from journeytothestars.wordpress.com

a grasshopper surfs,
rustling the green sea of leaves—
touchdown

(selected as part of Guest Editor Bernard Gieske's choices in the July/August 2011 Sketchbook insects/bugs haiku thread)

Image courtesy of travel.mongabay.com

soft spring twilight
a lime-green leaf takes flight:
luna moth

(for the July 2011 Shiki Monthly Kukai)



rain-brushed wings
flutter in the night:
Luna moth

(selected as part of Editor John Daleiden's choice and as part of Guest Editor Bernard Gieske's choice in the July/August 2011 Sketchbook insects/bugs haiku thread)


Image courtesy of fcps.edu