haibun

Geisha – Not too Happy

Geisha, geiko or geigi are traditional Japanese female entertainers who act as hostesses and whose skills include performing various arts such as classical music, dance, games and conversation, mainly to entertain not only male customers but also female customers today.
Geisha, like all Japanese nouns, has no distinct singular or plural variants. The word consists of two kanji, 芸 (gei) meaning ”art” and 者 (sha) meaning ”person” or ”doer”. The most literal translation of geisha into English would be ”artist”, ”performing artist”, or ”artisan.”
A male geisha is called Taikomochi.

silent approach
geisha in modest movements
sends scent of lily

Last time in Budapest I went to an exhibition about geisha. I saw many beautiful things from Japan. Sadly I wasn’t allowed to take photos.
Today I went to the castle area on Buda Hills. So nice weather. I walked along both east and west side. On west side the sun prepared for sunset …

in purple blue sky
wanting you so much – to
walk by my side

… it was that kind of atmosphere … poetry popping up in my head … thoughts insisting on attention … in league with my fantasy …

Walking and talking. We would have a great time. I would struggle with my English. Being inspired by your way of using words in your poetic way. We would talk about life, places we have visited – wanting to visit, life philosophy, humanity in the world – the lack of humanity …

our breathing
same air under lasting sun – moment
awaiting the kiss

Then a Miniatyr Schnauzer – pepper and salt – caught my attention. So cute – szép, I said to it’s mother. She looked happy. We talked a little. The dog was a bit worried. Looking after the dad all the time, she said.
Then I spoke to some American turists because they thought – the smart crows solving a problem together in a wastebasket – were ravens. I wouldn’t let them go on thinking that so I told them it was crows. And we talked about how smart some birds can be. Even they can learn about traffic lights.

Now I feel almost like I have practiced the geisha role. Being entertaining a little … so I decided I was worth a cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream.
Off I went to Anna café, Váci utca to watch people pass.

a lonely bird
searching for the flock
topped with cream

… and you know what!
The male servant – the Taikomochi – failed. Only milk foam.
He forgot the whipped cream!

Geisha left … not too happy … 😉 …

….. went off with a smile … of course!

Carpe Diem #1163 geisha, the beauty of Japan.

Wild – C’est la Vie

Today I have had a ‘free’ day. Nothing at all in my schedule. I love these days too. No problem to fill them. I take it slow and easy. Today I slept … well I wont tell you how long! Then I had my brunch with black coffee, seed crackers and goat cheese. Did some ‘musts’ and many more ‘lusts’.

At last I understood it was time for a hot bath. Sadly it wasn’t as hot as I wanted. Have to speak to the machine a bit more determined. Trying very hard to understand it after new circulation pump.

Put on an old list on Spotify. Didn’t get inspired – the three first tunes were oldies now boring – but then it happened …

tricky old
tapping on my heart – release
hips in rhythm

… This old heart of mine with Rod Stewart version with Ronny Wood. Now I’m in right mood. Then Sonny & Cher perfect for the mermaid. Every inch of the body wants to have a work through. Especially in hot water. Soft light. Today with a cup of tea. And my music.

In Bathtub

My kind of work ut.

kissing ‘n hugging
all that a body wants
you must give

Ha ha … Chuck wants to cheer me up. He knows exactly how to do it!

swinging the best
all times – c’est la vie – now
being a teen again

I’m working and swaying – feeling my best – mind and body totally free. Lost and happy. Free and flying. My thoughts are my surfing boards.

finding that special
wave in mind to jump on board
riding the other waves

What can I say more … breathe … Every Breath you Take … breathe … surf and breathe …

in the right age
just in the right time
waiting – for you

I’m ready …

I grab the plug … and let the water out … and …

no – not now
the hand shower went wild
simply the best

Now I die … totally wild too … thinking about one of my favorit dancer – Clare Turton (short dark hair) – dancing in Tinas show. She is just …. I die again … wildest ever … Live version … of course! (Clare Turton not in this version.)

Writing the Thinking

I just loved this episode Chèvrefeuille! And I also find Basho the master of masters when it comes to haiku. Oh what a wonderful place he came from. Would love to visit Mie Prefecture.

rocky beauty
in surrounding waves – connection
eternity to see/a

I could also write …

beauty rocks
the power of creation – nature
for hearts

Lack of nature …
That’s a real problem in our world! …. I think … young people more interesting in their smartphones … tapping tangents … playing video games … often about battles … but also building societies … in that technic world … totally lost from the real … such a loss …

What will happen with the field of relations … ability to make close human relationships … ”I wonder … wonder I do” ….

However I am sure the young people will get skills in special fields and that their brains find corners waiting to be developed … which are more or less sleeping in our brains …

I am just as sure about how happy I am for my connection to nature. Half of me grown up in a city – with my parents – the other half growing up in nature in the deepest forest – with my aunt and uncle. My uncle was my master …. life and living, creativity, imagination, intelligence, smart solutions, philosophy, attention about what’s got real value, … I am so thankful!

walking life’s track
covered with spruce and pine – needles
in pace with ants

skogen

And from other point …

living life
in that square box – only
games flashing minds

I am amazed about how short periods – here and there – during a lifetime can characterize and form ones personality. I know very well what has influenced me during life.

What has influenced Basho – delivered from him to us … to enjoy and find so inspiring … that’s … his … ”eternal life” … one influence to another … isn’t it beautiful …
(… but I know it also has a dark side … that influences … making life so hard for some … not to forget … )

I love thinking and writing … or … for me … I think … writing the thinking … with a big smile …

BR - Glimten i ögat

Carpe Diem #1162 Ueno Iga Province,
birthplace of Basho.

While Facing

I turn my back
on Buddha and face
the cool moon

Masaoki Shiki

I think … you can turn your back … or face it … you can be in control … or be controlled … and of course you can be out of control too. But that’s not so interesting … not now and here … anyway.

while facing
the subject of interest – closer
linnea borealis bloom

Linnea Borealis – a small very beautiful flower named after Carl von Linné. Both of them from my home areas and the flower is the flower of my landscape – Småland. A forest landscape. In my aunt and uncle’s forest we could find the rare flower. But we didn’t pick it. My uncle always said: Flowers look much better where they grow! … meaning not in a vase on a table. Wonder if it’s why I seldom by flowers ….?

How free are you … honestly … ? Are you – yourself – setting limits … or somebody else? That’s something for everybody to find out, I think. How do you want to live your life?

Sometimes …. when I study young people and couples focused – or seem to be living – in their iPhones … I wonder … Do they get jealous? It’s so much about ‘the self’ and ‘self-doings’ … and commenting other ‘self-doings’ …

Does she get jealous? Does he get jealous? Are they giving each other freedom? Do they trust each other?

”I wonder …. wonder I do ….” … always thinking a lot about people and their behaviour.

brittle bridges
in the lush of greenery – listen
a raven warns

Tonight’s dance performance was … well the first part outstanding, unique and very creative. I was totally lost when the boxer entered the dark scene in his boxing shorts and a glittering cape over his shoulders. Headlights flashing in a slow mood. The boxer made moves like in slow motion. Showing the struggle in life. Wow this is so strong – wow. Fantastic choreography.

While the other parts … well I only wanted to leave and go home … perhaps I tell about it in another post.
… poor dancers … to be in an odd choreographers hand … and has to do what he’s got in his mind to be expressed … in this case it was a man … for sure!

Carpe Diem #1161 Matsuyama
City birth-place of Shiki.

I could write – But didn’t

in shade of spring
we stop and get lost in kissing
a slur of life

I could write … ‘a slur of love’ … but I found that more limited … it’s not necessary with love … in every situation … sometimes it’s just enough to be able to enjoy life …

I have to reflect about this more …

But I know … I can enjoy life as well as love … being in love … or …. without being in love … making love is also enjoying life …

Or?

Tonight off for a Spanish night ….

Daily Prompt: Slur.

People Passing

I turn my back
on Buddha and face
the cool moon

Masaoki Shiki

Interesting history about Shiki, I think, when reading. I get curious and search more haiku by him. I must say I find them a bit difficult to like and he will probably not be a favorite of mine. But the haiku I choose above – I think goes well with his history – being radical and not allowed to give public speech. I think he felt a cool and hostile society then.

saw the country
and returned—now deep at night
I lie in bed and
fields of mustard flowers
bloom before my eyes

Masaoki Shiki

I myself had a wonderful day today – meeting friendly people and feeling spring – also love – in the air. I walked along the Danube passed a young couple …

she giggled
swaying her head ‘n hair backwards – and
he kissed her

… I smiled and felt happy for them – went on my walk. After passing two bridges I sat down. Studied the Japanese – or Chinese – turists modeling with Chain Bridge and Buda castle in background. A young handsome man did beautiful moves – Qigong – while his girlfriend filmed him with iPhone. I enjoyed and felt such nice harmony.
I laid back and closed my eyes … poetry popped up …

I’m sitting
by the river Danube
feeling the wind
dancing in my face
and playing with my hair

whirls of water
coming from down under
to hit the water surface
just to play with
the sun rays

people passing by
know nothing, nothing at all – about
wind and water playing

… this very minute … a moment I liked so much. I got a crazy idea. Why not film and record! So I did. But when listening I thought … how sad and sleepy I sound … that’s not me. Think it was because I didn’t want anyone to hear what I was doing.

Would you like to listen to it? Perhaps I can get enough guts to publish 😉

If you want – I will publish here … it’s on the way to Youtube just now …. ready … scroll down … 😉

So here it is … (I think I have to ask my granddaughter about advice for recording) …

Carpe Diem #1161 Matsuyama
City birth-place of Shiki.

Falling & Rising

Yosa Buson one of ”the big five” (Basho, Issa, Buson, Chiyo-Ni and Shiki) – was born in Kema Settsu, where several waterfalls can be seen.

from far and near

hearing the sounds of waterfalls
young leaves

Waterfalls are beautiful – also poetic, dramatic and a fresh nature phenomena. But – there always is a but – I wouldn’t live close to one. Just think – never a quiet moment! No I prefer visiting waterfalls and enjoy them – get inspired. Now thinking about the beautiful Brudslöjan – The Bridal Veil – between Sweden and Norway. I visited it once skiing – it was all frozen at that time.

like a veil
hiding the shy flower – water
falls covering

Just came home after an evening with Scottish contemporary dancers. Some days ago I enjoyed dancers from Netherlands. So I am in a good mood. Swaying on my cloud-look-alike surfing board on every named waterfall this minute on Internet. So beware – I will visit yours!

water drops
like surfing pirates – with swords
glistering falling

The first Scottish performance today was extraordinary! Also funny. The audience – and of course I – was so amused. First part they performed as if they were the instruments in an orchestra playing classic music. Adorable! And the funny part about birds seducing each other in a human-look-alike flamboyant way. I took that scen with me home smiling all the way.

male bird
seduced by her breast(s) – head
fell like water

I didn’t meet ”my” favorite choreographer this night. Imagine he is too busy with the premier to soon take place which he told me about last time. He looked really tired then. I’m looking forward that performance in a few days. But – there always is a but – before that I have other events to attend. My schedule is fully booked.

I don’t know why I choose this opposite-kind-of-water-fall …. rising water …

I only use my own photos here and … so sorry …. I don’t find any falling water only rising. Here is a really strong one:

Carpe Diem #1160 Kema, birth-place of Yosa Buson.

Far & Close

I wonder – like Rodriguez – often about a lot of things from … how the brain works … about similar structures in nature … both built up and movements … to how the universe works … about why the ‘great wall’ exists there far out …

Now I wonder why is it ‘hideout’ and not ‘hidein’?

out in space
tasting all of everything – with love
in my heart

From what I wonder about to what I’m fascinated about … I’m so very much fascinated about ‘far and close’ … in pictures … photos … picture makings … imagination … I often struggle to keep ‘far and close’ in mind … with me. As well as ‘whole and detail’. That suits perfect in all subjects. Politics as well as … you name it!

Today I will ‘hideout’ and enjoy Scottish dancers and then I will go and ‘hidein’ at home sweet home.

Far & Close! – The Whole & The Parts. – Structures & Details.

Daily Prompt: Hideout.

A Cocktail for Life

loneliness
lies within the listener –
a cuckoo’s call

morning glories –
awakened
in the middle of a dream

I pick up the loneliness thread …. It’s a bit sad thinking about loneliness … or? Being alone doesn’t mean loneliness. I often like to be alone. Worst is when people feel loneliness when being with other people, I think.

loneliness
travelled sadly to the heart
raindrops falling

Nobody should need to feel loneliness in a caring society. When will we get there?

So far … just a dream…

dreaming high
a struggle up the mountain
to a shrine view

To dream is crucial important, I think. And just as important is that … the dreams do not have to come true. They just are giving so much feeling-good on the way – while dreaming. To be able to dream you need a good portion of imagination and fantasy. Best spices for living life I think.

honey in mind
smooth start for fantasy – sets
pinecones rolling

Now thinking about how wonderful the coconut oil is for the skin. … Has to be another chapter …
Until then … Please have a cocktail for life ….

Carpe Diem #1159 Matto, birthplace of Chiyo-Ni.

In Mist and Water Drops

The five haiku masters in Japan …. Bashō, Issa (Cup-of-tea), Buson, Chiyo-Ni and Shiki – ”the Big Five.”

It really gripped my – todays post at Carpe Diem. I almost felt I sailed up a poetry level. Felt very nice …

ah master
I read your poetry – in the water
you still are

… to be there. But however I am realistic too. I’m not there yet. But I promise – cross my heart … I’m on my way. Cause I so badly want to … I always want to be a better me. Not the best because I have passed that several times. I just want to get better and better …

eternally saved
haiku – in the mountain pediment
painted by Issa

Today I have been so inspired by poetry written by Hamish, Kristjaan and other masters. I think the way of … ”hear your voice in the water stream” …. ”birds chirping in the sound of stones” …. and I bring with me … ”the artist not to be seen in the poetry”. That last one will be difficult … I’m sure. I am also – every day – inspired by haiku by Lize Bard – and responding to them.

Hopefully – some day – I will become a better me … but as I use to say nowadays – I have time.