haibun

A Quiet Watcher

This day – the day before Christmas Eve – we use(d) to call ”Little Christmas Eve”. We tasted the Christmas food. We were allowed to open one present. We had a really cosy evening. That’s how it was. Seems so long ago just now. I kept this tradition when I had my own family. We even celebrated once in a dry riverbed in the desert in United Arab Emirates. 1983 I think. Now is a different time. ”Yesterday is dead and gone” as Kris Kristoferson sings. My daughters doesn’t eat meat or celebrate Christmas. My son thinks otherwise. More like me.

circumstances
made christmas dead and gone
empty seats

Since I’m not a believer I don’t celebrate Christmas but I like some traditions. Like spending time together with my family. So I miss that now. Very much.

Some day I will bring my grandchildren to experience the Nutcracker in Budapest. Some day!
Today I went to an contemporary dance performance for children. It was just so very great!

air filled
bubbles of children’s emotions
cracking event

I can also go to church at special occasions – just to watch the rituals people are busy with. As behaviorist I’m very interested – all the time – in people’s behavior and everyday life wherever I am. I’m a quiet watcher.

But not ”quiet” about everyday life relating to politics. Consequences of bad politics I want to highlight. Sometimes also the good. I like to compare Sweden and Hungary as I think they are opposites in EU. I find it interesting to follow. Observe.

dedication
children’s welfare and schooling
my life

I think – maybe – it has been a lot about me personally lately. Sometimes it happens. And that’s ok for me – here.

I have had Bach in the background but tonight I’m afraid he didn’t engage me very much.

finally
a red heavy glass of wine
tasting your kiss
full bodied as usual
how lucky I am

Carpe Diem: #1105 Christmas Oratorio:
Cantata #1 BWV 248 – Mov. 1/9 by J.S. Bach.

I think this entry works better with:

Carpe Diem: Seven Days Before Christmas 2016 #7
Twas The Night Before Christmas.

I will make another for Bach 🙂

Music ‘n Muscles

My hot bath today turned out to be very peaceful and relaxing. Though Mungo Jerry was first out with ”Summertime”. If you listen carefully it’s not only rushy. It’s goes very well for a mermaid to make her moves in a nice flow. I tested and I liked it. And I would love to be that woman ”on your mind”. Dreaming away – to summer times.
Now next up was Leonard Cohen and ”So long Marianne”. Muscles are now warm and soft so the mermaid opened up to the music. I thought about the ”So long” both to LC and his Marianne this year.

music ‘n muscles
mermaid ready to move away
all pain

Well he didn’t want to leave until he had that ”Last Dance” – which I had saved for him. I was happy and I shook loose my shoulders. One more dance. And he left – it couldn’t be more calm – like as everything around was totally weightless. Me too.

Daily Prompt: Calm.

But Not – For Flowers

I just made a picture. Or the Picture wanted to be made by me. So it is! I use to listen when pictures want to be painted. Sometimes with pens, crayons and pencils I – myself – don’t like very much. I listen and do it anyway.

When Picture was made I gave it a name. That I am allowed to do actually. Picture got the name ”Locker”. And for a while – when studying the Picture – I wondered:

-What is it you want to tell me?

Then I said:

-Why are you so right on the point (almost) always!?

open minded
though the locker is closed – but not
for flowers

I saved and went to my emailbox. Now I find that one of my favorit haiku writers had made a beautiful poem about locked. My picture is named ”Locker”.

I think …

-the open window with the flattering curtain – to the right – is the ”open minded”
-the locker keeps ”something very important” safe
-”but not – for flowers” is so enormous interesting so I have to go on thinking about this

What could it mean?

Another Kind of Candle

On my way home today. I walked towards the Cathedral and a poem popped up in my head. (I live just behind the church.)

not so long
way to the other side
of religion

I’m not religious as you know. But when I grew up everybody around me were. As child – visiting the church – I always thought the priests told lies. Couldn’t understand how people could believe what the priests said. I’m interested in facts – not what few people make up in their fantasy and then try to make it true for a mass.
Sure Jesus once lived and he probably had a very good hearted life philosophy.

It also happens with ”facts” in times. Thinking about when the earth was believed to be flat. So I wonder a lot about:

-What do we believe to be very true today – and tomorrow will be proved as wrong and seen as the madness of our time? Maybe about the climate? Maybe about our planet? Our place in Universe? I would very very much like to know …

free ticket
for a ride in the dark world
to turn on the light
covered waited in endless queue
while the button was set broken

Perhaps that one was too mysterious?

wise people
talking the speech of facts ‘n truth
my candles
as interesting people’s questions
provide imaginative power and fantasy

“We are all atheists about most of the gods that humanity has ever believed in. Some of us just go one god further.”
― Richard Dawkins

”Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful.” Lucius Annaeus Seneca.

Carpe Diem: Seven Days Before Christmas 2016 #5 candles.

Mother of All Pearls

Out in the crowd. Camera settings with blue filter. To light up my day. Thinking about killings and attacks. Sad but definitely not scarred or frightened. Thought that if I had that stupid, monstrous terrible brain … where would I place … I was sure of where. So I took the metro just to that place. It was the end station. Above is the Christmas Market. And I wasn’t the only one thinking … Three very well armed and equipped men stood steadily and watched us when we got out from the train. I asked very polite:

-May I shoot you?

So sorry I didn’t get that photo!
But I was lucky today. Bought myself a heart decorated ceramic cup for my green chai tea. I also found my dress. Now it needs a neckless. And I know what kind. A Native American style in black and a few silver pearls decorated with mother-of-pearl. Maybe I can make it myself.

nacre sunset
when shells are tumbling
in salted waves
showing up to each other
the most glory mother-of-pearl

I listen to the music and I can see the shells and the shiny ”mother of all pearls”.
Can you?

Carpe Diem: #1103.
Symphony in F sharp minor Op. 41 by Dora Pejacevic.

A Solitary Leaf

These days in our world it is like – …

… while the days role on and – somewhere there you are – with your enthusiasm for life – you enjoy – you experience – ….

… then suddenly – like a flash from the sky – actually the reality – somewhere – you are hit – very hard – and paralyzing – by a kind of lid – for a while – …

… then you rise and – go on with your life – finding the way back to your enthusiasm – your joy for life – experiencing – …

… with a new needle – like a knit gnawing – somewhere reminding – or telling you – something …

… you don’t want to listen to!

So I don’t!

a solitary leaf
and the blue river of life
flooding

I go on – in my life – I take the hits from all the lids – and I go on with my life.

Daily Prompt: Enthusiasm.

… thinking about these horrible ‘t’ attacks …

Habanera for Pinch & Bath

Today I had a lot of errands to do. Most important was goat cheese. On the way to the cheese market I slipped into some shops and found – not a dress – but a jumper full of glittering paljettes. This will do very well, I thought, since dresses are so hard to find. After the goat cheese I found some fresh salmon. Also perfect – Omega 3 you know! I like salmon a lot but don’t forget it in the oven!!!! The oven baked is the best I think. Then a refill for my seed supply – sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds.
-Well done Birgitta. Now you earn a (Christmas) Present. Off I went to the bookstore.

And what to say!!!! They didn’t know about haiku! They didn’t know about Matsuo Basho!!!! In the largest bookstore in Budapest. No present to me this day. Life sucks!! But not for long. Last one – a favorite – take away – crème brulée – to keep me going tonight.

Home sweet home and time for a well deserved hot bath and relax. Listening to my music.
Sorry I don’t know which was the first but when I was all covered with the hottest water and feeling the heavenly relaxation Chris Norman sang ”Lay back in the arms of someone” and I did. Feeling wonderful. Swaying my body. Good for the muscles.
Now I’m ready! And ….

Wow – Habanera – and of course I think about Maya seducing the soldier ha ha. Some special muscles will have to work now.

pinches ‘n hugs
in step not for eyes – only
imagine

Oh I love love love! This scene. Maya is so ”just one” with the music. Love love love! Now I am exhausted – no just kidding – ….
Funny though with Zorba’s dance again today when I finally got up.

Daily Prompt: Relax.

Seducing Wine

Jag började söka på Internet. Ville få information om en av de största inom haiku. Vill andas in hans själ. Genom poesin. Vill ju bli bättre på denna speciella japanska versformen. Jag tror jag gör ett besök i bokhandeln i morgon. Efter att jag handlat getost – som snabbt tar slut – där borta i bästa saluhallen. Hembakade frökex och god getost – ah – det är bara så – himmelskt gott! Tar med Carol Oates bok i väskan också eftersom jag ska till bokhandeln. Där på andra våningen finns världens vackraste bokcafé. Kanske kommer jag en bit till i boken som aldrig tycks komma förbi ”inledningen”. Håller fortfarande på att läsa om den mördade dottern/systern ur alla inblandade personernas perspektiv. Har buret med denna boken sedan i somras. Får köpa en stor bit av getosten och en bit av den goda färska. Så jag har till rödbetor. Det ska räcka över hela julen. Ungersk kolbasz har jag redan. Det fick jag en i julklapp. Det kräver … Ett gott rödvin. Tungt som synden. Fylligt som en rundmagad herre i övre medelåldern. Och utsökt som ….. som …. som …. som … mmmm … en kärleksförklaring i nattens yra. Ja det rödvinet ska jag njuta och sannerligen inte spara en droppe till nästa dag. Tror jag köper två flaskor. Eller tre.

vinet förför
med frökex och getost
varje gom

Hoppas de har en bok med poem av Matsu Basho. Då ska jag få den i julklapp.

Skrivpuff: Söka.

Ur led i Tiden

Dags att kolla Skrivpuff för dagens ord att skriva om. Jag surfar iväg i cyber. Bestämmer att det får bli en haibun.

S t i r r a
läser jag på skärmen
och stirrar
på datumet ovanför
himmel! tänker jag då

Ja så gick det faktiskt till! Jag har inte fattat att det redan är den 18 december. Juldagarna närma sig. Jag ska vara ensam i Bp. För andra året i rad. Det är ny ordning numera. Livet tar sina vändningar och då får man göra bästa möjliga. Så gott man kan. I år är jag mycket bättre på det och jag har just nu ”flow” i kreativiteten. Skriver och målar. Njuter under tiden. Däremellan är jag ute och fotograferar eller på olika kulturevenemang. Då njuter jag också.

lilla vän
det är kallt ute nu
innan julen

lilla vän
det blir inte bättre
med krig

lilla vän
en vilsen dag till
i morgon

världen
är alldeles ur led
i tiden

Låter nästan som ‘mellan hopp och förtvivlan’ där förtvivlan tar överhand. Det är i min lilla värld det finns hopp men i världen utanför handlar det om förtvivlan.
Förtvivlan inför människors oförmåga att kunna leva i fred med varandra. Det är så sorgligt. Ingen ändring i sikte heller.
Men snart är det nytt år!
Jag är säker på att det blir ett bättre …
Önskar …

Skrivpuff: Stirra.

Japanese Tea Ceremony

Today I went to explore and experience the Japanese café close to my space in the cultural life. I definitely wasn’t disappointed! I had my tea and felt healthy to my bones while writings some snail mails to beloved back home far north.