Tepid and bittersweet

tepid and bittersweet Carpe Diem’s 2nd compilation of the CDHK kukai

© 2016 January Chèvrefeuille’s Publications The Netherlands

TEPID AND BITTERSWEET – CDHK KUKAI COMPILATION

Dear reader, What a joy to present to you our second compilation of the Carpe Diem Haiku Kai kukai. In our first compilation “Petal Lanterns” I gathered all the submissions of the first two kukai “Wisteria” and “Summertime”.

In this second compilation “tepid and bittersweet” I have gathered all the submissions of our third and fourth kukai “juxtaposition” and “peace of mind”.

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It was really my pleasure to create this CDHK e-book and I hope you all will like this kukai compilation.

Chèvrefeuille, your host January 2016

All haiku are published on Carpe Diem Haiku Kai and the copyright belongs to the poets.

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[...] “Juxtaposition of entities in haiku cannot be simply the throwing together of just anything; the poet must have the intuition that certain things, albeit of "opposite" characteristics, nonetheless have a resonance with each other that will evoke a revelation when they are juxtaposed in accordance with the timetested canons and aesthetics of haiku.” [...]

Robert Spiess, editor of 'Modern Haiku' on juxtaposition

TEPID AND BITTERSWEET – CDHK KUKAI COMPILATION

Juxtaposition 4

TEPID AND BITTERSWEET – CDHK KUKAI COMPILATION

Maybe you remember our first series of Haiku Writing Techniques last year. One of the HWT was Juxtaposition and it wasn’t an easy “theme” for the kukai, but there were nine (9) CDHK family members who submitted haiku for this kukai.

The winner of this kukai was Ese and she submitted the following (winning) haiku: tepid and bittersweet in the last sip of coffee departing summer 5

© Ese And our runner up was Hamish Managua Gunn (a.k.a.

Pirate) with the following haiku: at the waterfront the moon bumps against the shoreline -a hollow bowl sings © Hamish Gunn

TEPID AND BITTERSWEET – CDHK KUKAI COMPILATION

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a fish bowl gin and tonic summer drunk with sun a silent trip butterfly driven voyage to find the new world © Cressida de Nova

TEPID AND BITTERSWEET – CDHK KUKAI COMPILATION

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a boa of vines on her shoulder - turning leaves colors of autumn blooms of frost flowers autumn coming to an end white ribbons of ice © Jazzytower

TEPID AND BITTERSWEET – CDHK KUKAI COMPILATION

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stinking mildew coat lanterns hum in a grey sky memory incense fades antique samovar whirrs hemming vagrant memories grey hair strand murmurs scattered porcelain dishes road trip to Arizona desert cactus grows in hearts © Ruchi Copra

TEPID AND BITTERSWEET – CDHK KUKAI COMPILATION

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row of zinnias butterfly must choose between yellow or purple gladiolus wave side by side in summer breeze calling honey bees © Candy (Candace Kubinec)

TEPID AND BITTERSWEET – CDHK KUKAI COMPILATION

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snowflakes falling invoking summer memories yellow sea grass summer heat inside my duvet in December after the tempest only echoing silence in this room © Georgia (a.k.a. Bastet)

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unnoticed in the forest of parasols the first yellow leaf sunrise caressesabandoned cobweb lace shards of broken bottle tepid and bittersweet in the last sip of coffee departing summer © Ese

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train journey a stretched whistle into night -loneliness of an owl at the waterfront the moon bumps against the shoreline -a hollow bowl sings in my pocket a warm empty bullet cartridge the monk lights incense © Hamish Managua Gunn (a.k.a. Pirate)

TEPID AND BITTERSWEET – CDHK KUKAI COMPILATION

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cool breezes on her sleeping naked form... my warm breath toddler trying to wake old man in the park ice cream cone at the toddler's feet... ah....things to come © Opie Houston

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the way ants busy themselves; this Sunday evening tea and a gift of sky pink bougainvillea hedge a stranger on the sidewalk waves nonetheless which birdsong will fit a somber evening feather on the wind © Gillena

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PEACE OF MIND

TEPID AND BITTERSWEET – CDHK KUKAI COMPILATION

Our fourth CDHK kukai was “peace of mind” and it prolonged a month of prompts about the Bhagavad Gita (April 2015). It brought a lot of wonderful haiku (22) submitted by 10 different CDHK family members.

The winner of the “peace of mind” kukai was Georgia (a.k.a. Bastet) with this beauty: rain drips off the old bamboo wind-chimes serenity 16

© Georgia (a.k.a. Bastet) And our runner up was Hamish Managua Gunn with the following haiku: waves hush a moonlight ripples on water -my dream floats © Hamish Managua Gunn (a.k.a. Pirate)

TEPID AND BITTERSWEET – CDHK KUKAI COMPILATION

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[...] Thus, always keeping the mind balanced, the Yogi, with the mind controlled, attains to the peace abiding in Me, which culminates in liberation.

When the perfectly controlled mind rests in the Self only, free from longing for the objects of desire, then it is said: “He is united.”

As a lamp placed in a windless spot does not flicker— to such is compared the Yogi of controlled mind, practicing Yoga in the Self (or absorbed in the Yoga of the Self).

Little by little let him attain to quietude by the intellect held firmly; having made the mind establish itself in the Self, let him not think of anything.

From whatever cause the restless, unsteady mind wanders away, from that let him restrain it and bring it under the control of the Self alone.

Supreme bliss verily comes to this Yogi whose mind is quite peaceful, whose passion is quieted, who has become Brahman, and who is free from sin.

With the mind harmonized by Yoga he sees the Self abiding in all beings and all beings in the Self; he sees the same everywhere.

He who, full of faith and with his inner self merged in Me, worships Me, he is deemed by Me to be the most devout. [...] (Taken from the 6th chapter from the Bhagavad Gita)

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mindfulness journey through the body... spring cleaning mother's whisper in the baby's ear... spring planting on the pole ever ready for the wind... our flag at rest © Opie Houston

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calm backyard garden topiary crane looks at me standing stone Buddha . © Milan

TEPID AND BITTERSWEET – CDHK KUKAI COMPILATION

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whisper sweet breeze mind in eye a thoughtful plea hope imagine chaotic muse speak to soil and rain fertile mind world sings out loud in windows opened nearby hear my peace © Thom Amundsen

TEPID AND BITTERSWEET – CDHK KUKAI COMPILATION

21 whispers of the wind through leaves

listening to the whispers of the wind through leaves seeking peace of mind © Jazzy

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Scattered by raindrops Fractured prismatic colors Bring peace after storm © Christy

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steaming cup of tea the new sun rises slowly lavender wafts by snow falling softly cat curled upon a blanket no sound but purring full moon shines brightly on silent fields of poppies even crickets sleep © Candace Kubinec (Candy)

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rain drips off the old bamboo wind-chimes serenity [this young lark] in the pomegranate tree songs of autumn along the river buzzing insects play - hide and seek © Georgia (a.k.a. Bastet)

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raindrop on the window magnifies green hills yonder where my mind wanders fresh coffee from the campfire embers glow -a new beginning waves hush a moonlight ripples on water -my dream floats © Hamish Managua Gunn (a.k.a. Pirate)

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two hands join in peace

two hands join in peace monstrance raised bell rings a moth drowns in the holy water font © Rallentanda

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in a cosmic womb primordial sound echo om mani padme hum memorial day wreath healing prayers beads another War or peace? restless paper intense quill gesture to write peace soliloquy © Ruchi Chopra

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AFTERWORD:

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I hope you all enjoyed the reading and the re-reading of the haiku which were submitted for our “Juxtaposition” and “Peace of Mind” kukai. It was again a joy to gather all these beauties for you my dear Haijin and Carpe Diem Haiku Kai family members.

Namaste, Chèvrefeuille, your host

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© January 2016 Chèvrefeuille’s Publications The Netherlands