1164

A Clear Midnight
THIS is thy hour O Soul, thy free flight into the wordless,
Away from books, away from art, the day erased, the lesson done,
Thee fully forth emerging, silent, gazing, pondering the themes thou
lovest best.
Night, sleep, and the stars.
--Walt Whitman, (1819 - 1892)


Welcome to A Poem In Your Pocket Celebration 2013 Thanks to all poets for your participation; revisit A Poem In Your Pocket 2012


purple kimonos
retreating between walls -
zen sunset
--Lavana Kray, Romania


forgotten
tulips on the back side
of your list
--Ralf Bröker, Germany


Ixora
The ixora blooms drink to their delight,
From the wetness in seasons of the rain;
Their little umbrella faces bereft of strain,
Resplendent in interludes of sunlight;
I linger a while to write, a tribute if i might,
To your now iterative state, and feign
Jealousy, to compliment your splendor again;
Radiant reds, oranges, and yellows bright,
A common place blooming, a beautiful sight;
No place in legendary courts to regain,
For never have you lost your plebeian reign;
A threadbare glory remains your right;
Seen here and there never out of sight;
Still my delight, beautiful ixora you remain
--gillena cox, (Pink Crush 2011 pg9)


higher and higher
mountain stream and I
weaker and weaker
--Gabriel Sawicki, Poland


sperm whale—
I am stranger speaking
in coda accent
--Ernesto P. Santiago / Philippines


flight of fancy
lifts my journey
through each day

china doll
closes her fan...
do you love me?

wings fan the air...
swallow
takes flight

dog days of summer
hot air air-conditioner cold...
ceiling fan revolution
--Pat Geyer, East Brunswick, NJ USA


Taking a break
the sparrows' twitter
at the feeder
--Beate Conrad, GER/USA


daily walk...
always a tissue
in his pocket
--Diane Mayr, US


dwarf banana plant
she says my haiku
show promise
--William Kenney, US


Thanks: Beate, Bill, Diane, Ernesto, Gabriel, Lavana, Lorraine, Pat, Ralf for your contributions

The Linky Widget has been removed, one Link, inputted by Lorraine is now hyperlinked


Poems in this Poetry Day sequence are the copyright of the individual writers


Till next year
much love
gillena

The Twelve Days of Christmas 2011-12

opening image a photo taken at Lopino 2008

Hope YOU had A MERRY CHRISTMAS and WISHES FOR A BRIGHT AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR; This has been the FOURTH YEAR'S celebration OF
The 12 days of Christmas here at Lunch Break

The Anansy Story is an intrinsic icon in the oral tradition of Caribbean people and this year's celebration was done haibun style. All the prose (ie. story of) 'Anansi and The Twelve Days of Christmas' and also The Anansi image © gillena cox 2011

revisit The 2010/11 Celebration Finale here; Thank you for celebrating with me.

Many religious observers ascribe the 12 Drummers Drumming as symbolic for The twelve points of the Apostles' Creed; But now to end this story...

DAY TWELVE JANUARY 5RD 2012

Parang Parang Parang, Parang Parang Parang. that was what Anansi heard outside his window on awakening Christmas morning, that, and the sweet voice of his wife, Mrs Anansi down stairs singing; when he, Kwaku Anansi, opened his eyes, and yawned loudly, and stretched his spidery self. When he, Kwaku Anansi, jumped off his bed dancing wildly and shouting
"i'm at home, i'm at home";
and, when he, Kwaku Anansi paused for a while, to scratch his spidery head.
"But how could this be?
And there was the voice of Mrs Anansi fillng the Anansi home as
she sang the carol "on the twelfth day of Christmas, my love gave to meeee..twelve drummers drumming...eleven pipers piping...ten lords a-leaping...nine ladies dancing...eight maids a-milking...seven swans a-swimming...six geese a-laying... five gooold rings.........four colly birds...three french hens...two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear treeeeee"
Meanwhile all the way to church and back Anansi had driven carefully but his mind was full of thoughts;
"Was it really just a dream; but how could that be?"
And really i also do not know... may all your Christmases be special AND A BRIGHT AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR

--Meanwhile in Australia as reported by Comrade harps

we drive home
veer from our direction
and meet her at the hospital



--And in Trinidad and Tobago as reported by Keith Simmonds

toasting with glasses
of ginger beer and sorrel...
joyful neighbours

steel pans
belting out carols...
peace to all mankind



--And in Germany as reported by Ralf Bröker

lunch time
a pan full of
Nürnberger



--And in Serbia as reported by Tatjana Debeljacki

Christmas tree
whole family sitting together
drinking reiki

in round cake
We turn around three times
God help



--And in the USA as reported by Dian Mayr

the new year
grandma gives baby a pot
and a wooden spoon


Poems and images remain the copyright of the individual writers

Thanks to: Adelaide Shaw, Alex Serban, Cristina-Monica Moldoveanu, Comrade Harps, Dian Mayr, Gheorghe Postelnicu, Juhani Tikkanen, Keith Simmonds, Konrad Kusmirak, Lorraine Renaud, Magyar, Ralf Bröker and Tatjana Debeljacki

Thanks to all who visited but did not leave a comment, Thanks to all who e mailed or indicated their appreciation at Facebook

much love
gillena

Thus ends, The Twelve Days of Christmas, Dec 25th 2011 to Jan 5th 2012; right here at Lunch Break

The Twelve Days of Christmas 2011-12

--Opening haiga by Konrad Kusmirak, Poland

MERRY CHRISTMAS and Welcome to the FOURTH YEAR'S celebration OF 'The 12 days of Christmas at Lunch Break'

DAY ONE DECEMBER 25TH 2011
All the prose (ie. story of) 'Anansi and The Twelve Days of Christmas' © gillena cox 2011

It was at cockcrow, when, i started recording this story whispered to me by my muse. Come along with me. Lets explore 'Anansi and The Twelve Days of Christmas' haibun style (ie. prose and haiku verses)


"Wake up! wake up Anansi" said the Mrs Anansi.
"Our children are downstairs ripping open presents and they haven' t even been to church, nor as yet had their breakfast; Wake up! wake up Anansi " she shook him again and again.
Then, she left the room, singing softly to herself the Christmas carol "On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to meeee ... a partridge in a pear treeeeee.

--Meanwhile in Germany as reported by Ralf Bröker

flickering candle
she only knows
this one song



--And in Serbia as reported by Tatjana Debeljacki

in the house of love
pleasantly and divine,
christmas eve

green Christmas tree
green blanket
and green eyes



--And in Romania as reported by Gheorghe Postelnicu




--And in the USA as reported by Adelaide Shaw

dusk coming on
on Christmas day
once more Silent Night



--And in Trinidad and Tobago as reported by Keith Simmonds

Christmas eve...
standing room only
in the cathedral

a massive turnout
at the midnight mass...
Yuletide solidarity



Many religious observers ascribe that the 'Partridge in a Pear Tree' gift is symbolic for Jesus

more about The 12 days of Christmas
Listen to the Carol here
revisit The 2010/11 Celebration Finale here

Poems and images; remain the copyright of the individual contributors


To participate COMMENT or e-mail me


OTHER INTERESTING LINKS
Kids Track Santa On Google Earth
Listen to Lennox Grey - Around The Christmas Tree

Renku Saturday 10

sunset sky your hues will morph
into nigh'ts cobalt stillness
--gillena cox


my renku partner for today is Gheorghe Postelnicu from Romania
Thank you Stops for your charming autumn haiga

revisit Renku Saturday 9

Hoarding Chocolates 11

Today FEB 11th is my birthday, and i'm sending chocolate kisses to everyone; internet image is from

revisit my birthday 2010

another bite
another birthday~
chocolates
--gillena cox



this Rose greeting was sent to me from Jacek Margolak a Polish haiku pal; thank you Jacek, much love...





heartshape
this box of chocolates
a ruby
--magyar





Olga Neagu a Romanian haiku pal sent me this
birthday video Thank you Olga; much love






Beyond the fence
of a blackening forest
years
...hide me gently
under falling days

This tanka is from Patricia Lidia a Romanian haiku pal; Thank you Patricia; much love





sweetness from your smile
smooth chocolate words you send
to our hungry hearts
Dianne





Decadent as can be
Chocolate served
--Lorraine






Birthday haiga is from Gheorghe Postelnicu , a Romanian haiku pal; thank you Stops; much love...





This Beatles Birthday Song is from haiku pal Louis Osofsky from Quincy, California; thank you Louis, much love...




This Stevie Wonder Birthday Song is from haiku pal Magdalena Dale from Romania; thank you Magdalena, much love...





mid-February
my chocolate truffle melts
with the snow
--Bette Norcross Wappner





on her pillow
a chocolate kiss
...nearly home
--Diane Mayr





From haiku pal --Melissa Allen thank you Melissa, much love...

your kiss
the last chocolate
in the box





Thanks everyone for making my day special, much love...

Lunch Break - 5th Anniversary

fifth anniversary
at Lunch Break
we share a five star

*¤*

morning chill
awakened by the tremors
of a shivering earth
--Devika Jyothi



Welcome to the fifth anniversary celebration of Lunch Break: a haiku/haiga dialogue...Started 18th January 2006; to revisit the 4th Anniversary Celebration click here...

"the poet of the haiku vanishes as to direct our attention toward what is beyond the ego...."
essay by Carlos Fleitas'Haiku: lightning on a clear sky'



winter clouds -
leafless magnolias
trembling in the wind

*¤*

ice needles -
a warmed up fly
pops in the window
--Cristina-Monica Moldoveanu



snow falling
across the parking lot
headlights flip on
--William KENNEY



lunch break -
I read
"Lunch Break"
--Andrzej Dembonczyk




--STOPS



child holding
a new kite in his hands --
warm seabreeze
--Juhani Tikkanen



somewhere between Christmas
and Valentine's Day-
happy birthday lunch break!
--Cara



religious calendar
of the world three hierarchs
and the candlelight
Tatjana Debeljacki



already five years
of dedicated duty...
bon anniversaire
--Keith A. SIMMONDS



I certainly have enjoyed LunchBreak. Gillena's writing and artistic talents make it a special event each time. Congratulations Gillena. Best wishes
--Que



5th anversary / omedetou / keep going haiku way.
--Kokko




Shanna




--Diane
photo is courtesy the Library of Congress



Thanks to:-Andrzej Dembonczyk,PO; Cara Holman, US; Cristina-Monica Moldoveanu, RO; Devika Jyothi, IN; Diane Mayr, US; Gheorghe Postelnicu,RO; Juhani Tikkanen, FI; Keith A. Simmonds, TT; Nakamura Sakuon, JP; Quentin Clingerman, US; Shanna Baldwin-Moore,(Hawaii)US; Tatjana Debeljacki,SB; William Kenney, US;



Poems remain copyright of the individual writers, and should not be used without their permission



MUCH LOVE
gillena

Saying Even Less 19

Andrzej Filipowicz 'City Landscaping'...

Renga...
Ren... linked images in paintings...
ga ...a subject marker...

The 12 Days of Christmas Sequence 09-10

DAY 12 - TWELVE POINTS OF DOCTRINE IN THE APOSTLES CREED


Christmas presents image From…

♪ ♫•*¨*•on the twelfth day of Christmas•*¨*•♫ ♪

midnight ushers in
Christmas day
beat of tassa drums
--gillena cox; TT
first posted on FaceBook Dec25th
~***~

a toddler rocks
her new dollhouse baby . . .
the empty manger
--Mary Davila
~***~

Christmas is
a time of miracles--
birth of Christ
first posted to words flow and stuff 24Dec 2009
--gillena cox; TT
~***~

three wise men find
the light of the world...
a lowly stable
--Keith Simmonds; TT
~***~

twelve days
after Christmas the moon
still blooming
--Tikkis, Turku, Finland
~***~

traitor double agent
his work
faithfully foretold
+ posted as a comment
--comrade harps; AU
~***~

♪ ♫•*¨*•on the eleventh day of Christmas•*¨*•♫ ♪

snow capped Mt Fuji
arrives on a post card
a new year greeting
-- gillena cox; TT
~***~

travellers in the night
in search of the Prince of peace...
star of Bethlehem
--Keith Simmonds; TT
~***~

♪ ♫•*¨*•on the tenth day of Christmas•*¨*•♫ ♪

joy and praise
to the king of love...
light of the world
--Keith Simmonds; TT

the furl of carnations
bunches of paper pinks
for a doll’s tea party
-- gillena cox; TT
~***~

♪ ♫•*¨*•on the ninth day of Christmas•*¨*•♫ ♪

season of Christmas --
friend greetings
after quite a while
-- gillena cox; TT
~***~

a bright star
shining over a stable...
the Savior is born
--Keith Simmonds; TT
~***~

walking the aisle
to a new life
the bride’s tears
-- gillena cox; TT
~***~

gradations of red . . .
a sight of hope
for the New Year
--Gabi Greve; JP
~***~

longsuffering -
life is
too long
+ posted as a comment
--comrade harps; AU
~***~

♪ ♫•*¨*•on the eight day of Christmas•*¨*•♫ ♪

sleeping undisturbed
cardboard encircling
a homeless man
-- gillena cox; TT
~***~

Icicles
at the window eave -
first sunrise
--Magdalena Dale; PL
~***~

the sun is rising anew
from the snow-covered horizon;
red-crown cranes dancing
--Taro Kunugi; JP
~***~

season of Christmas --
friend greetings
after quite a while
-- gillena cox; TT
~***~

Happy New 2010
--Sakuon Nakamura; JP
~***~

♪ ♫•*¨*•on the seventh day of Christmas•*¨*•♫ ♪

sacred flesh
and the blood of –
vegetarians are the devil’s work
+ posted as a comment--comrade harps; AU
~***~

Christmas eve ~
church overflowing with
once-a-year christians
--Keith Simmonds; TT
~***~

scent of incense
lingers in the chapel...
Christmas morning
--Keith Simmonds; TT
~***~

choir practice
preparing wedding songs for
their celebration
--gillena cox; TT
~***~

♪ ♫•*¨*•on the sixth day of Christmas•*¨*•♫ ♪

from the dust
in his own image--
a creature flawed
--John Daleiden, Avondale, AZ
~***~

the breath of life—
in each creature great or small
a life force
--John Daleiden, Avondale, AZ
~***~

year ending
the blue moon a bright moon
a flat grey sky
--gillena cox; TT
~***~

on a hot sunny day
rain showers--
season of Christmas
--gillena cox; TT
~***~

massive Christmas tree
lighting up the village:
carols everywhere
--Keith Simmonds; TT
~***~

up and down
the Christmas tree
a glass angel
--Jacek Margolak; PL


♪ ♫•*¨*•on the fifth day of Christmas•*¨*•♫ ♪

homes and gardens lit --
that magical feeling of
Christmas now abounds
--gillena cox; TT

falling from grace—
the begats, the garden…
the human struggle
--John Daleiden, Avondale, AZ
~***~

a litany of faults—
teach us how to live
fruitful lives
--John Daleiden, Avondale, AZ
~***~

forgetting this is winter
the green lace
of christmas ferns
---Cindy Tebo; USA
~***~

parang music
mingling with calypso ~
carnival fever
--Keith Simmonds; TT
~***~

outlined in frost
the red leaves of autumn
have yet to fall
---Cindy Tebo; USA
~***~

a reader agrees -
too many books on the same subject
confuse
--Blogarian
+posted as a comment
~***~

♪ ♫•*¨*•on the fourth day of Christmas•*¨*•♫ ♪

each word weighed -
memory and translation
paraphrases
+ posted as a comment
--Comrade Harps; AU


the followers,
Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John—
weaknesses revealed
--John Daleiden, Avondale, AZ
~***~

listen—
hear their stories . . .
read their words . . .
--John Daleiden, Avondale, AZ
~***~

words from Luke’s Gospel --
lights from the Christmas tree
and shards of sunlight
--gillena cox; TT
~***~

paranderos
belting out their songs:
birth of a king
--Keith Simmonds; TT
~***~

The songs in our hearts tell us about peace!
Angelika Wienert; DE
~***~

♪ ♫•*¨*•on the third day of Christmas•*¨*•♫ ♪

trust in the word--
without doubt the sun will rise
and set each day
*
always a light
glowing through the darkness—
Hope
*
bearing gifts--
the moments that touch our hearts
with lasting love
*
cornerstones--
Faith, Hope, and Charity,
the foods of life
--John Daleiden, Avondale, AZ
~***~

a grocery bag recycled--
lunch
is sent to a stranger
--gillena cox; TT
~***~

Santa comes to town...
starry-eyed children
tear open their gifts
--Keith Simmonds; TT
~***~

her gift
again -
another
--Comrade Harps; AU
+ posted as a comment
~***~

while I
unravel the fairy lights
his shining
--Ralf Bröker; DE
~***~

♪ ♫•*¨*•on the second day of Christmas•*¨*•♫ ♪

the flight of doves—
ancient and new stories
generations tell
--John Daleiden, Avondale, AZ
~***~

senior citizens
listening to parang music...
ham pastel and rum
--Keith Simmonds; TT
~***~

stories of wonder,
something old and something new—
the songs of life
--John Daleiden, Avondale, AZ
~***~

invited to a Boxing Day bbq
she feigns
a migraine
--Comrade Harps; US
+ posted as a comment
~***~

roar of motorbikes --
Santas dip into their BIG
yellow plastic bags
--gillena Cox; TT
~***~

A day after Christmas --
Santa Claus
unemployed
--Juhani Tikkanen, Finland;
~***~

♪ ♫•*¨*•on the first day of Christmas•*¨*•♫ ♪

blush of ponsettia
wishing you a
Merry Christmas
--gillena cox; TT
this haiku was first published on my 2009 haiku picture post cards~***~

Circling Evergreens
Christmas day echoes
Carols of God
--Lorraine Renaud; CA
+ posted as a comment
~***~

true love—
the enfolding embrace
of man, earth, and air
--John Daleiden, Avondale, AZ
~***~

mistletoe
upon every door...
love in the air
--Keith Simmonds; TT
~***~

children laughing,
their stockings overflowing--
an empty saucer
--John Daleiden, Avondale, AZ
~***~

Christmas morning
the cat plays
in the cardboard box
--Michael Baribeau; US
+ posted as a comment
~***~

unravelling
fairy lights with my son
roast goose's smell
--Ralf Bröker; DE
+ posted as a comment
~***~

breakfast
and all day
lunch
--Comrade Harps; US
+ posted as a comment
~***~

Christmas morning...
children rushing under
the Christmas tree
--Keith Simmonds; TT
~***~

Partridge peers around
A light snow covers the ground
No pears on the tree
--Quentin Clingerman; USA
~***~

Awaking on Christmas
Remember why He came here
Celebrate His birth
--Michelle Rose; US
+ posted as a comment
~***~

Thanks for making this celebration a success
--gillena cox; coordinator - The Twelve Days of Christmas at Lunch Break

Poets were asked to email before hand or post their haiku gifts here as comments
Poems remain the copyright of the individual writers and should not be used without permission

Religious Symbolism of and music for the Christmas carrol - The Twelve Days of Christmas


Nativity image From…

The 12 Days Of Christmas 2009-2010

EIGHT BEATITUDES



!!!HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

♪ ♫•*¨*•on the eight day of Christmas•*¨*•♫ ♪

sleeping undisturbed
cardboard encircling
a homeless man
-- gillena cox; TT
~***~

Icicles
at the window eave -
first sunrise
--Magdalena Dale; PL
~***~

the sun is rising anew
from the snow-covered horizon;
red-crown cranes dancing

In my Japan, cranes, are a symbol of the New Year, are regarded very auspicious birds that are said to live for one thousand years. Red-crowned cranes CLICK HERE
--Taro Kunugi; JP
~***~


--Sakuon Nakamura; JP
~***~

Poems remain the copyright of the individual writers and should not be used without their permission
Remember to read also those shared as COMMENTS

Religious Symbolism of and music for the Christmas carrol - The Twelve Days of Christmas

The 12 Days Of Christmas 2009-2010

SIX DAYS OF CREATION



♪ ♫•*¨*•on the sixth day of Christmas•*¨*•♫ ♪

from the dust
in his own image--
a creature flawed
--John Daleiden, Avondale, AZ
~***~

the breath of life—
in each creature great or small
a life force
--John Daleiden, Avondale, AZ
~***~

year ending
the blue moon a bright moon
a flat grey sky
--gillena cox; TT
~***~

on a hot sunny day
rain showers--
season of Christmas
--gillena cox; TT
~***~

massive Christmas tree
lighting up the village:
carols everywhere
--Keith Simmonds; TT
~***~

up and down
the Christmas tree
a glass angel

--Jacek Margolak; PL
~***~

Poems remain the copyright of the individual writers and should not be used without their permission
Remember to read also those shared as COMMENTS

Religious Symbolism of and music for the Christmas carrol - The Twelve Days of Christmas

Earth Day 2009

Have a HAPPY EARTH DAY 2009
First launched as an environmental awareness event in the United States in 1970, Earth Day (April 22) is celebrated as the birth of the environmental movement...Earth day history

Earth Day
I circle the date
in green

Earth Day
a note in
my kiyose
--William Sorlien; Minnesota, USA


violet asterisk –
somebody wrote my name
across the Earth's day
--Ralf Bröker; Germany


earth day-
holding a bouquet of flowers
in the check out line
--John Merryfield; Mexico


earth day
fallen petals adorn
the waste bin
--Polona Oblak; Slovenia


Under our feet
thousands of cherry petals…
still Earth Day
--Magdalena Dale; Bucharest - Romania


Wake up to Daylight
Thinking about God's green Earth
Birds pecking at seed
--Que Clingerman; US


Psalmist's Earth Day
resting in greener pastures
our Shepherd at work

Been busy in the yard with treating dandelions and clover which infiltrate my grass and spraying for ants which populate our area like sand. On a serious note I usually celebrated Earth Day with my class as a teacher. Earth Day needs a long hard look at progress and priorities.

forty years old now
a grassroots holiday
in midlife crisis
-- Reason A Poteet; US


beginner
she prays the seed
into the earth
--Bill Kenney; Whitestone NY USA


Earth day...
planting trees to become
giants of hope
--Keith A. SIMMONDS; T & T


panta rhei...
point in the universe
our Earth
--Krzysztof Kokot; Poland


Solar system
celebrates: happy
Earth Day!

We don't like
your kisses asteroids,
stay on your way!

Earthy Day party --
Mars pays court
to Venus...again

Earth Day --
a bit tipsy Jupiter totters
on his path

Blue Marble -- so many lifes in your blues!
--Tomislav Maretic; Croatia


soft breezes blow south
relief from hot days in spring
marine layer cools

no electric air
needed today open windows
bring shaded sun

cats chew green leaves
ecology of felines
earth day everyday for them

recycle what
hurts earth
save planet mother

--Michelle Rose; US


Mother earth's belly
mostly protected by
salty water

Our own moon
behind the heavy clouds --
I wanted to live in Jupiter!

(Jupiter "owns" 63 moons, counted now, I think one of those is seen more frequently ?)
--Tikkis; Finland


Earth day -
amongst the stars
a garden
--John McDonald; UK


Greeting from Poland I think of the destruction caused environment by the mines

gold mine -
the rain forest
and smaller
--Andrzej Dembonczyk; Poland


I should embrace the earth
but, ah dear, only two hands
are not enough

global heating-
health before wealth
for people and earth
--Vasile Moldovan; Romania


mirthday far off
as water sighs and cries
earth day thinks fresh
--Joseph B. Connolly; Nevada US


It's Earth Day today?
Too bad my tank was empty,
so Earth un-friendly.
--HaikuKelly; US


pruning shrubs
eve of Earth Day-
cirrus overpass
--gillena cox; TT

Earth Day asterisks 2009:-*Green Generation Campaign *renewable energy *green jobs *global dimming earthdaynetwork

Days before Earth Day 2009, President Obama's Energy Secretary Steven Chu gave a press briefing at the "Summit of the Americas" in Trinidad and Tobago where he laid out the potentially disastrous consequences if the world community doesn't unite to combat climate change read more

Poems in this Earth Day sequence are the copyright of the individual writers and should not be reproduced without their permission

Earth Day Haiku coordinator - Gillena Cox; TT

revisit Earth Day 2008