This week at Colleen’s Tanka Tuesday they’re talking about Autumn. Oh MY!
How wonderful that sounds… here, no signs of that being remotely so.
As far as I can tell, nothing has changed–nada!
But I keep the faith.
The Tanka Tuesday invitation this week:
How does this time of year affect you where you live? Think about the seasonal changes.
What descriptive words come to mind? If they work to define the season you’re in, add
them to your kigo list.
You DO NOT have to write a haiku. You can create a poem from the 24 forms listed. (We all know only haiku and haibun require kigo season words). This challenge uses the kigo
words for inspiration.
Your syllabic poetry writing invitation is to choose a kigo word or phrase from the
seasonal kigo list on the post, or you can choose from the autumn category for the
Northern Hemisphere, or the spring category for the Southern Hemisphere on the kigo
word list links below. Share your kigo word on your post. If you write freestyle poetry,
you must share a syllabic form, that includes a kigo word.
You must use one kigo word or phrase in your syllabic poem. If you share a kigo word or phrase in your freestyle poem, you must include a kigo word or phrase in your syllabic poem.
Everyone’s invited in this friendly community.
I was inspired by Colleen’s Nonet, The Gloaming Light, of last week.
The Nonet is a form of shape poetry with syllabic count 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9;
but ended with a classic Etheree instead: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10!! Both poetry
forms need a title.
The Four O’Clocks
strong
yet mild
is the scent,
uncontested,
of the four o’clocks
grown wild along the path
hours until dusk we arrive
find graves shaded, serenaded
drunk with day, the pavement mosses doze
bullfrogs bassoon us as we walk back home
Copyright ©️ selma
Kigo: Four O’Clocks (flowers), graves, bullfrogs
We don’t walk to the gravesite—we go by car. But it sounds nicer to tell you we are
returning home after we visited our ancestors’ graves.
This scene will not play out until next week during the observed long weekend; as
Monday is a holiday here, we can expect lots of traffic at the graves. To avoid crowds
and the heat we plan on going close to sundown. I already told you about the smells
and sounds we’ll encounter. I know this: It’s the same nostalgic feel every year when
you can feel summer waning, and I love it.
So, subtle as it may be, we are closer to Autumn indeed!!
Aside: Four O’Clocks might be considered invasive, but I keep them in my yard–for the
moths and the hummingbirds love them. I like its cinnamon aroma.
Around this time last year, I wrote about cicada and obon and alluded to the shade: words that punctuate the year for us. Here’s a refresher.
dew on shaded algae
stark cicada shell
flower-laden graves
*
Moon. Cloud-cover. Moon.
The Bon festival concludes
souls happily returned
*
The scent of melon
lingers after souls depart
things unseen stay dear
*
Morning’s dew is light
I pause, inhale its radiance
the pansies beckon
Copyright © selma
Thanks for reading, and please enjoy what’s left of summer.
Bless you all.
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Beautifully written Selma.
Thanks Sadje. 🤗
You’re welcome ☺️
Beautiful!
I appreciate you, Bridget. Thanks. 🙏
Thanks, Beth. 🙇🏽♀️
love these
Thanks, dear Beth. 🙇🏽♀️
Oh, so beautiful, Selma. I love seeing photos and reading reflections on Japan. Having lived there for 5 years (my daughter was born in Kyoto), I have a special love for the country. ❤️
In Kyoto. How very VERY cool, Gwen. That sure makes the country special. Happy to know. Glad you read and connected today. 🤗
Today, Thursday at 4:43 Nankai Trough mega earthquake— did you hear? We have a risk advisory in our area. God help us.
Blessing you, Gwen 🤗
Beautiful Selma 🤗
Loved the photographs too !
Thank you for sharing 🙏
Aww. Thanks for liking something I created. Bless you.
It is my pleasure Selma 🙏
Many blessings to you my friend .
Beautiful, you are a talent poet.
Selma you are GOOD!
I would never have known that you didn’t walk there if you hadn’t said so. Your poem is very evocative. I plant California Four O’Clocks. They are bought as annuals here. They don’t grow wild.
“bullfrogs bassoon us as we walk back home” One of my favorites:)
Aw, I’m sorry you don’t like the heat, Selma. Autumn will come. A lovely poem.
The 4 o’clocks are spectacular! I hope you are okay. I heard there was an earthquake! Please be safe. Sending you much love and hugs. 🥰
And smell delicious too. One cannot miss them.
Nankai Trough mega earthquake on Thursday around 4:43
I didn’t feel it this time.😳 have no idea how come. Why not… had no clue until husband informed me.
We have the first-ever alert about risks… 🙏 oh my!
Thanks for the concern. 🤗
My children grew four o’clocks in a pot indoors when they were young–they are hardy! We loved watching them bloom. (K)
Selma, I’ve never grown nor smelled 4 o’clocks but now I want to. Wondering why they have the name they have…
Lisa had the same thought as me. I know nothing about 4 o’clocks and now I am intrigued. Beautiful piece, cara; almost a Dectina but not quite. I love it! ♡
Nice 👍
Selma, I love The Four O’Clocks! So beautiful with vivid imagery. I’m with you about the heat and ready for autumn. Time flies, so she will arrive sooner than we think. 🙂 Stay cool! xo
Lovely nostalgic feel to the poetry and beautiful photos, Selma. I heard about the earthquake, hope you are safe and doing well. 🙂
Thanks Kitty.
And we are safe
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Thank you so much
Such lovely poetry here as always, Selma…thanks for sharing the sights, scents, and sounds of autumn!
It’s my pleasure Lynn dear. Xoxo
Bee Cool