Happy New Year, everyone. Today’s post, like recent events that have brought me
back to my computer days before I’d intended to return, is written for Kim at dVerse.
Thank you, Kim, and again, Happy New Year to all.
Kym writes:
Aim to write no more than three tight paragraphs, followed by a traditional haiku
that includes reference to the season.
If you are new, here’s how to join in:
- Write a haibun in response to the challenge.
- Remember to include a link back to the dVerse Poets Pub from your blog.
- Enter your name and a link directly to your haibun by clicking Mr Linky below,
and check the little box to accept the use/privacy policy. - You will find links to other poets and more will join so check back later to read
their haibun. - Read and comment on other poets’ work – we all come here to have our poems
read. - Comment and participate in our discussion below, if you like. We are a friendly
bunch of poets.
“Oh, for an inch of blue sea,
for just enough to go through
the eye of a needle!”
~ Osip Mandelstam:
Born: January 14, 1891, Warsaw, Poland
Died: December 27, 1938, Vladivostok, Russia
***
Pilgrims: Being Human on New Year’s Day
Done with our first-of-the-year pilgrimage to the temple—one of our customary
firsts (hatsu this and that)—and having a normal send-back home on the trains,
we stopped in our tracks in disbelief: My family and I live on the east of the country
—the side that faces the Pacific Ocean. The people who live on the western side that
faces the Koreas and Russia, from across the Sea of Japan need our prayers at the
start of the new year. What they lived through in the 7.5 magnitude earthquake was
a 3 in our area. This could as well be happening to us as last night I went to bed with
images of the blood-red sky I saw on TV: It has stunted our normal, shattered us, and
made us appreciate more what we have.
stable at the start line
nature has other plans
a New Year to heed
© selma
Short video was taken by Selma, and within the same hour, we heard…
Thank you so much for reading.
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When it happens so close it is so much easier to appreciate the good we have…
Yes, it is. The realization that we could be next—grounding. We do our best living. Thanks for the visit, Björn. Happy New Year
Chilling and so saf
So sad. I’m sure you mean sad because it is just that. Thanks, Beth.
yes
Selma, your haibun the vivid imagery of the blood-red sky and the contrast between the stable start line and the unpredictable course of nature is thought-provoking. Your words convey a deep sense of empathy and gratitude. Well done! 🌊🌏
~David
The image of the blood-red sky I saw on TV stayed with me. Never a good time for natural disasters—but the familiarity of us being in the same place, most likely doing the same thing on the first day of the year pierced me deep.
Happy New Year, David and thanks for reading and even liking it. 😉 💗 🙇🏽♀️
Selma, so glad your side of Japan did not face the devestation that took place. You expressed it so well in your haibun. Sending you lots of love and prayers.
Hey, Punam. Your words are tender. Thanks so much for the love and prayers. I bless you my friend.
It was such a strong earthquake. I’m hoping you all are safe.
Hey, Sadje. I love your new profile photo. 👏🏽
It was strong. So far we are safe. Hope there’s no more of this of this magnitude this year.
Thanks for reading. Blessings, Sadje. HNY
Take care.
Thanks 🙏🏼
Happy New Year, Selma! Thank you for sharing the beautiful illustration of the white-naped crane and New Year’s fern, and your haibun reminds us how fortunate we are on this side of the world. I agree with David that the vivid imagery of the blood-red sky and the contrast between the stable start line and the unpredictable course of nature is thought-provoking. Your haiku sums up the situation so well.
Hey, Kim. Thanks so much for reading and liking it. Like I mentioned, the prompt dragged me out of hibernation. Thanks.
Happy New Year. 🥳 have a fantastic new year.
Selma, beautifully and starkly reminding us how vulnerable we truly are, at the whims of nature and its power. Thank goodness you are safe … one cannot imagine an earthquake of such ferocity and its aftermath. I love the short video, wonderfully serene and tranquil. Bliss …
Thank you, Annika. That short video was taken at a small shrine. The sound and image it represents speaks to me. I wish to pass that on to whoever comes to read. Thanks for appreciating. Bless you.
Glad to hear you are safe and well, Selma! Take care and best wishes for the year ahead!
Thanks dear Ingrid. And to you as well. Best wishes for 2024. I feel it will be another stellar year for EIF. May it come to be.
I hope so, Selma – I work towards that goal 🙏✨
We are all at nature’s mercy. I was so scared for Japan when I read about the earthquake and possible tsunami and hoped it would not happen again. It is so sad and glad you are safe. 🙂
We are at nature’s mercy. Thanks for the beautiful hope you have for my adopted country. Sending blessings your way.
Very nice & interesting Haiku. It’s so sad & happy you are safe,my dear friend. Tack care and best wishes for good year head. Beautiful pic.
Thanks for the great new year wishes Raj. Hope you have a spectacularly great year too 💕
Glad you liked the pic. Xo
You are most welcome, Selma! I hope you have going New year great & continue to our friendship.
Our friendship will not change. May we all have a spectacular year
Thanks, Selma! May be to you too! okay!
Beautiful post ,so happy to hear you are safe dear friend 💖👍👏🏼 from UTube saw the terrible earthquake 😢
take care and Happy New Year 🥂🎉
Thanks for caring. Blessings to you for a fantastic year.
🌹🥰🙏✍️😍🌹
Dear Selma. I saw a video of what it looked like during the quake and it was frightening. I am so glad you and your family are safe. Reading your haibun was a good reminder of how fragile the earth is and by extension all life, how important to reflect on our own life with gratitude. Prayers for Japan and hopes for a more stable 2024 than its beginning. 💞💞
More stability for all. Praying for the world. Thanks so much, dear Dora.
Selma the videos on the news were frightening! I went though quite a few earthquakes when we lived in southern California. They are terrifying! I can’t imagine a 7.5! Thank goodness you are safe. Happy New Year! ❤️
Thank you again. Amen
Selma, I am so happy that you are safe! The quake is a chilling start to 2024. We are reminded of our human vulnerability, a thought so well-captured in your poignant haiku! The fountain at the shrine is beautiful and serene! Wishing for peace in 2024.
Happy New Year to you and yours, Selma! <3 <3 <3
Chilling… thanks for being here, dear friend. I’m so lucky for this.
The serenity in that short video is what I wanted to leave everyone with. So happy you appreciated it. Blessings.
Too close for comfort! Sending good wishes to you and your country–it’s true, nature has her ways which can not be predicted, only adapted to. I’m glad you and your family are safe, Selma.
Too close. It didn’t go unnoticed. Thanks for the well wishes, K. And Happy New Year 🥳 to you and your loved ones. All the best. Xo
Yes, it was quite shocking to see, Selma! I hope it’s all calmed down now over there. Wishing you and yours much peace and wellbeing for the new year x
Dear one, On behalf of everyone here, thank you so much. Peace. 🕊️
❤️
Sending good wishes your way, Selma. That first illustration is so lovely.
Thanks so much.
🤗 thanks and glad you liked it. Xoxo
Glad your safe it definitely was felt here me and my daughter and I were standing by the front door.
Hey, Ms Hazy. Glad you’re safe too. You felt it too? 😮 are you in this area? Sending blessings.