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Springing everywhere. Photo by Selma

The Spring Equinox

Hi, friends, this post is written for Colleen at Tanka Tuesday for March 19, 2024
where poets gather to create syllabic poetry every week. This community invites
me to open my heart to the goings on in everyone’s geographic location and makes
me feel like sharing what’s happening in mine. Thank you, Tanka Tuesday participants.

Also, it was here in March 2021 that I first heard of the National Poetry Writing
Month (NaPoWriMo) where I intend to participate for the fourth year next month.
A great milestone in my journey… this is how much and why I love Colleen’s
website. xoxo Come take a look.

Please click on the link below to see a list of last week’s participants and get a
good doze of inspiration. Everyone awaits your poem too. Hope to see you inside.

https://tankatuesday.com/2024/03/19/24-seasons-syllabic-poetry-challenge-no-26-
3-19-24-part-i-the-spring-equinox-march-20-april-3-
shunbun-%E6%98%A5%E5%88%86/

Mondo poems are often very brief collaborative affairs (usually written by two poets) that present a question. (The question needs to be open-ended and poignant and should be a test of the answerer’s wit). The answer is written in the style of trying to glean meaning from nature. [For this challenge, the poet can write both parts of the mondo.]

Mondos can be as short as a one-liner or as long as two 5-7-7 syllable stanzas. Sometimes 5-7-5 is used for each stanza. There is no rhyming. You won’t need a title.

The first stanza presents the question; the second stanza answers. We usually write this form in the spirit of Zen, responsive through meditation and observation of natural surroundings. ~ Colleen M. Chesebro

Daffodils at Isshiki
© selma

MONDO

straight daffodils sway
conducting the orchestra 
to what music, I wonder

the north wind’s music
daffodil sorcerers teach 
how to rouse warmth from within

© selma
kigo: daffodil, north wind, warmth.

And I promise you these daffodils are sprinkled in just enough salt as the
ocean is only footsteps away, and local fishermen are busy harvesting
wakame (seaweed) and hanging them out to dry. See how well the
Daffodils have adjusted?

On the other hand, the manhole cover, steps away from these beauties,
shows signs of rust. Check it out in the photo gallery:

EXTRA– A video for your enjoyment, plus two more haiku. Please read.

Low Tide at Isshiki
© selma

EXTRA, EXTRA

the receding tide
a web of drift wakame
magical rock pools
*
rocks dry in the sun
drift wakame hold on tight
a salty tangle
© selma
kigo: wakame (seaweed)


I hope you enjoyed this post.
I share the videos because
I feel I’m in good
company here.
Happy Spring.


(3-20 is a public holiday: Happy Spring Equinox)

Thanks for all the well wishes.
‘m feeling much better now, considering…

Now that March has come,
“trifles look so trivial–“* ~ Emily Dickinson.

Selma Martin
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This Post Has 50 Comments

    1. willowdot21

      I love to read you words and your poetry…so beautiful. The photos too are lovely , I couldn’t see the videos as they are private 💜💜💜

  1. rajkkhoja

    These are indeed & sounded. Very interesting haiku. Beautiful photos . I can’t watch your videos . These can’t open. Beautiful the spring Equinox you sharing. ,My best friend Selma.

    1. Selma Martin

      Can’t open? Raj, click on the TITLE and read it from there: The title will get you logged in. WordPress has changed things around with Videos (WP is always changing things for the better/safer) and that is one way around it. This way our website is safe. And so are our supporters. Bless you. xo

      1. rajkkhoja

        Thanks, Selma 😄

  2. beth

    one of my fav days and love your words

  3. sgeoil

    I will need to take a lesson from the daffodil sorcerer and rouse a little of that warmth from within on this first full day of spring…cold winds and snow are blowing here! Lovely writes.

    1. Selma Martin

      weather is curiouser and curiouser every year. It’s cold here too, but more blooms appear every day. Stay warm Heather, dear.

  4. Colleen Chesebro

    Selma, I love your poetic reflections through your Mondo poems. Also, fabulous photo of wakame drying. (I was so excited to find brown Nishiki rice in my local grocery. How cool is that?) Your haiku are extra special this week as well. I loved the daffodil sorcerers! Please keep sharing your view of Japan. 💖

    1. Selma Martin

      Colleen, I was sure you’d enjoy that photo with the wakame drying. Today I was by the sand beach–tons of wakame everywhere. I was floating in a green ocean. Didn’t have a camera… Nishiki rice. fantastic. so happy you seek that out. Thanks for reading. Bless you.

      1. Colleen Chesebro

        Thanks so much, Selma. My favorite rice is brown Jasmine rice. I need to visit the local Asian store to find that rice. I love it all!

  5. D.L. Finn, Author

    Happy spring, Selma! Love your poems and I agree daffodils seem to survive in most conditions. Good luck with NaNoWri. I am working on a story I wrote during one a few years back. Xo

    1. Selma Martin

      So you started your novel that way. wow. I’ve never done the NaNo–April only, the NaPo. Fourth year in a row if all goes well. All the best to you… are you sure you’re not a robot? Nah, eco poets are as real as they come. You are for real. Thanks. blessings.

  6. D. Wallace Peach

    Beautiful, Selma. I hadn’t heard of a Mondo, and like the idea of a question and answer, as well as the inclusion of two poets. How pretty. Your poem was a perfect example of the beauty of the form. And a wonderful peek into your world with Extra, Extra. 🙂

    1. Selma Martin

      Hi, Diana. This was the first time attrmpting a Mondo. I only heard this from Colleen’s list. So happy you enjoyed that. And the extra, extra. hehe. Bless you. Thanks for enjoying my world.

  7. Cheryl Batavia

    Hi Selma, Hope you are feeling better. Take care!
    A very lovely post! I am having computer issues , so I will have to sign in and subscribe again.

    1. Selma Martin

      Im feeling mch much better now. thanks, my friend.
      Computer issues are the worst today. A blessing and a curse. Go slow, dear one. blessing you and sending good vibes.

  8. Michele Lee

    Your relationship with nature is a gift for all of us. 💛 Thank you for the poem description. Happy spring to you, Selma!

    1. Selma Martin

      Thank you, sweetest Michele Lee. You are a gift as well. You radiate so much light and goodness. Never change. Happy spring…

  9. Sadje

    Sorry that your videos didn’t play for me. Loved your beautiful poems my friend

    1. Selma Martin

      Sadje, it’s WordPress! And now they say one must be logged in. Not in the reader: logged in. I hope the videos work for you that way. And sorry for the hassle WP created. I guess it’s for more safety. Safety is good. bless you. xoxo

      1. Sadje

        I’ll try again. Thanks.

        1. Selma Martin

          Hope the videos worked outside the Reader. Tap on the globe 🌍 icon. Two places. That should show the video to all subscribers. 🤗

  10. Dawn Pisturino

    Glad you’re feeling better! Lovely poem, haiku and videos.

    1. Selma Martin

      Aww. Thanks Dawn. I’m working on THAT. Wait for it.
      ((I purchased the book)) 🎉

  11. Balroop Singh

    Interesting and informative! Selma, I like how much is compressed into this post besides awesome poetry.

    1. Selma Martin

      You’re so welcome. Thanks for appreciating. Xoxo 😚 🤗

  12. Kerfe

    Daffodils do create magic!

  13. Beautiful poems and photos, Selma, and thank you for introducing the Mondo form to us. For some reason, the videos were private, so I couldn’t play them. xo

    1. Selma Martin

      Thanks for visiting Lauren. Glad the Mondo found a warm spot with you.
      The videos. WordPress has changed that. They want readers to be logged in/outside the Reader.
      Tap on the globe 🌍 once on top right and (maybe) again at bottom right—that should log you in soon.
      All subscribers can view. (I guess this is how they’re culling the spammers from our websites.)
      Thanks for the visit. Xo

  14. Gwen M. Plano

    Lovely, Selma. Through photos and verse, you’ve given us Spring. ❤️

  15. Smitha V

    Loved your mondo, Selma. I knew about the mondo but had no idea that the answer had to be witty and related to nature. Yours was beautiful and tender.
    P.S.I couldn’t see the videos.

      1. Smitha V

        Will do. Have a great day, Selma!

    1. Selma Martin

      Colleen my sweet. Forgive the hassle. Looks like WP wants us to read the posts outside Reader. Tap on the 🌍 once at top and a second time at the bottom and viola 👏🏽 hope you enjoy. 😊 bless you

  16. Jules

    The videos are only available to ‘members’ so says the info in the place of the video.
    Lovely verses. I remember watching a movie where the family business was harvesting seaweed… But it was not set in Japan. 🙂

  17. The Amethyst Lamb

    “Daffodil sorcerers teach how to rouse warmth from within.” Love those lines. ❤️

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