What is Haiku? Why should you write one?

impulse of the child
inside it's all poetic
suddenly you smile







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a dab of background, I was at an event last night and a child of similar age to the one in the picture (judging by the dental work), well, she got to smiling when I would give her a wink or a nod and it was a "sudden smile" that we shared - you know those times when impish joy takes over the moment and you have a child grinning, well it was one... so I made a note of the term "sudden smile" and vowed to elaborate... wah-lah! today's haiku availed itself as the "poifect" opportunity...
Have a wonderfully childish day!
LarryG









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to bless self surrounding

May self-surrounding become a means
of sharing the best of life with those
near and dear to heart. May you place
in the "rooms of your life" appropriate graces
for arrivals and departures.

May your "kitchen of strength" be filled
with tools for healthy eating, fellowship
around table, and comforts of friendly talk.

May your "office of mind" meld
bustle and peace. May you be drawn
deeper into the expression of life’s
work. May this satisfy the heart and
echo the words "well done devoted one".

May the "den of your heart" afford
joy of solitude and love of sharing.

May the "altar room of spirit" express
the truth that inner sacrifice has an open reward.

May each room of your life add
comforting space that can challenge and nurture,
heal and mold, mystify and enlighten.
May this ingathering of people,
things, ideas become a "self-surrounding"
that overshadows mere personal growth,
yielding a homecoming of unity within.

~0'hOgain
for my dear friend Ann

Have you? Did you?

Have you had a rug burn?
Did you get itchy from a grassy hillside?
Did you wake up with roses on your porch?
Have you gotten butterflies in a bouquet?


Did you get a song to sleep by?
Have you been tucked in?
Have you met at the visitor's center?
Did you take a three county loop ride?


Have you been to the land of the green?
Did you spin yourself dizzy together?
Did you throw away a box of memories?
Have you laughed till you hurt?

Did you share a bottle of DeLoach?
Have you been on a hot date?
Have you felt a hundred godwinks a day?
Did coincidence confirm connection?

Have you sat with guitar and song sheets?
Did you inspire a praise song, written and sung?
Did you stumble to the stairs?
Have you danced to the whistle and fiddle?


Did you share dark fear in a sacred space?
Have you had a heart placed in your hands?
Have your tears fell again in brokenhearted pain?
Did you stub every toe on both feet?

Have you? Did you?
Did you? Have you?


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Photo i-appropriated from ghettojack's photostream click the link
to see more of Jack's super pics.

Returning the Gaze

"look at the way I look
at you and you'll know..."
~ a friend

Answering the question posed,
So how do you know when you are 'liked' ?

Quotable

"If you could only hear what you say,
you'd quote yourself often."
~ o'hOgain

Love Letter No 70 - Success Love

Dear J,

To say I think of you constantly is such an understatement. I would say there are times when I may happen not to be thinking of you, the distraction at that point is not worth a mention. With us "success" happened, over and over, and that reduced everything else to background noise. The rest of the world may have been spinning along, but our world was in slow motion. We embraced, the world turned around us.

So if you want the definition of "success"; our picture is next to the word in the dictionary. The sacrifices were there, yet hardly worth mentioning. And once "success" happens, there's no desire for anything else. Yes, I know that you know, I love you, and to hear that over and over is "success", to live in "success", to swim in that ocean and shout from that mountain, to ride that rocket beyond the atmosphere, "SUCCESS".

With deep and tender affection,
LarryG

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Haiku - I Want a Girl

I want a sweet girl
just like the girl (my mama)
that married dear dad
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(Check the link for a youtube of the barbershop quartet song)

to bless peanut butter and jelly

When fun lasts long and hunger is suppressed by the excitement of activity may peanut butter and jelly be blessed.

May relaxation and friendly sharing fill the moments of the day canceling anxiety of meal preparation in exchange for the simple satisfaction of peanut butter and jelly.

May the secret of the peanut hidden in its shell and jellied fruit combine as an offering bringing energy; the healthful fuel that secures wonderful memories.



~ by o'hOgain

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(Inspired by friends in a "wellness class" I attended.)

Love Letter No 69 - Retro Love

Dear P,
Tee shirts, torn jeans, sandals, beads, bracelets, earrings, all the trappings of days gone by are unnoticed as wide-eyed affection dominates. The intensity of tie dyed rainbows bursting open on display represents all the colors of life we share. Bangles were enough, matching toe rings too, kept rapt attention focused on what will never be forgotten.

Rubik's cubes, hula hoops, art deco, fads drop in and fashions change, this little boat floats on through every storm. And then that next kiss takes us back to the first one, retro love, alive and kicking.

With deep and tender affection,

LarryG

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Spontaneity - Haiku

(Rita Hayworth)


perfume wafts in wake
perfect balance, hips swinging
lilting walk, heads turn

Sharing with You

When it comes to happy times,
we've shared them,
special moments,
got those too,

And partaking life at its
absolute unexceedable best,
downright unbeatable this
sharing with You.

Footnote: And yes, I mean you, you are reading this correctly,
it means you :) so you got it, right?!

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Photo i-appropriated from ~ghettojack at deviant art ~ click the link to see more of Jack's super pics.

to bless emphasis

May simple simplicity find itself
expressively expressed with
action and word.

May hopeful hope arise,
may caring care engage,
may merciful mercy embrace,
may loving love exchange.

And may you connect with many
who "get it!"

Love Letter No 68 - Hot Love

Dear J,
It's microwave, it's slow cooker, it's
instant, it's fermented, it's cappuccino,
it's sun tea, it's Hot and it just
might burn your tongue.

It's the beach, the tanning booth, the
blow dryer, the hot tub, the car
with windows up, the air conditioner
off, it's Hot and it just might
put you in a sweat.

It's morning aerobic, it's midday at the gym,
it's an afternoon jog, it's power yoga,
it's guided exercise, it's Hot and it just
might tone some muscles.

It's a sexy novel, it's an erotic poem,
it's a grinding dance, it's a backseat romance,
it's an afternoon nap, it's Hot and it just
might push the limits.

This love is Hot, it's now, it's ready,
it's ours, let's go.

With deep and tender affection,

LarryG

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Haiku - Geese

geese honk in passing

blackbirds chatter, rise and soar

times change all travel

Position to be filled RANF (Rainy Afternoon Naptime Friend)

Do you have the qualities listed below? Would you like the position of RANF?
1. Must love folk songs, know a few, like to sing along.
2. Have a flair for the poetic and willing to share.
3. Have a personal sense of spirituality that involves the micro (self) and macro (world).
4. Should enjoy sharing family lore and short stories (with laughter).
5. Have a zest for learning new things along with the stick-to-it-willingness to get the fun out of it.
6. Willing to express honest emotion with selfconfidence.
Send email and/or contact info -
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What qualities does your RANF, "Rainy Afternoon Naptime Friend" have? or what would you look for in an RANF?

to bless embarrassment

"I wish I'd have sunk through the floor on the spot",
often heard afterward, yet may the
moment of embarrassment bring blessing
other emotion cannot provide. May the common
bond of humanity prompt recognition that
brings comic relief. Feelings transfigured through
the hot flushing skin bring assurance of
basic humanity. If ever experience bonds
humanity as one let the glue be embarrassment,
and in that bonding a great blessing.

May the fundamental notion that "every thought
is physiological" be affirmed during
embarrassment. May acceptance reign
over avoidance, and admission over denial,
when gracefully the acknowledgment is made.

May we handle tenderly any event shaming
or embarrassing another, and if a "better
them than me" attitude comes to mind,
the knowing is this,
"The treatment received by those
in direst circumstance
is the measure of civility of the whole."

May embarrassment be rare,
may such events yield remarkable stories,
and may the telling and retelling of stories bind
those who love best closer still.

Love Letter No 67 - Climate Love

Dear A,

Pervasive, all around us, so influential and undeniable it becomes hard to put your finger on, and oh so difficult to describe, "Climate love" is, the just right water in the gold fish globe, the island getaway warmth to bask in while relaxing, the unified cheer of the crowd when the star emerges for an encore at the close of a brilliant performance.

And the climate I celebrate now is powerful, motivating, soul stretching, heart winning, thrill inducing, body entwining, deep soulful gazing, hand holding, lip touching, way down in the innards, total passionate love.

There is no better place than this climate, climate love.

With deep and tender affection,

LarryG

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Watered as needed

watered as needed
bloom long faded, season change
wind's gift is waiting

to bless "the credit"

A moment of clarity, something to be hoped for,
and perhaps to be attained, for a
moment, may it bring with it "the credit"
needed for the days journey.

May the affirmation of life bestow
"the credit" to enliven the step, invigorate
action, and renew purpose. May there be no
time wasted in the pursuit
of "the credit" as an end in itself.

May "the credit" and those with concerns
for it be held in its most fleeting condition.
May those tempted with lesser
affairs grab "the credit", while life allows
freedom of the heart for pursuits
that engorge the entire being
to its intended stature for those
unworried by "the credit".

May "the credit" be recognized as a natural by
product of the truly valuable process of
a life's tasks. Yet, while it is nature's release to
be unencumbered by the gaining of "the credit"
may the joy of giving be always flowing
as that perpetual fountain in the giving of "the credit".

May the eye never tire of seeing those
nearby whose active presence deems
"the credit" be given. May the arms never tire
of thankful hugs that pass "the credit" to
those responsible for acts of mercy. And may feet
never fail for taking the steps to bring
"the credit" to those who labor
tirelessly behind the limelight to ennoble
so many great gifts.

May "the credit" be remembered for its
roll and blessed with a thousand
blessings as triumphs are passed around with delight.

Share “10 Honest Things”

A fabulous teacher & really "bad"mom Stephanie of bad mom bestowed upon me recently a gracious "Honest Scrap" award ~

I do enjoy reading the "bad mom"files, and can hardly ever resist: making my own personal comments, providing unsolicited "guy" remarks, and the playful spirit that Badmom brings to her blogging. For some reason she has pondered the above and deems it "honest scrap"!

Who am I to argue with that!

Furthermore, and pursuant to the terms of this award and with the encouragement of those who have shared this before I proclaim the following:

No. 1 -- I am exceedingly tickled, honored & thankful.

No.2 -- I share the glow by telling 10 honest things about myself.

No. 3 -- I name below other bloggers who constantly overwhelm me with brilliance and baffle me with, well you know that "baffling stuff (bs)" and that I sincerely love.

My ten things you probably didn't know about me:

1. When I was in elementary school I was smitten by "the little red haired girl", (a'la Charlie Brown)

2. I play or have played a few musical instruments: trombone and tuba (hs band and US Army 14th Army Band), Flute (Marshall Tucker style for rock roll band in HS, and one concert with the community orchestra), bass guitar (rock and roll band), flat top guitar (personal enjoyment, praise and hymn leading in church), mandolin - octave mandolin - mandocello (performed Irish music with my own band, Local Mandolin Orchestra, and countless "kitchen music" sessions of old time, bluegrass, fiddle tunes, irish tunes)

3. Have participated in the "4th day movement". (This is one of thousands of these type groups.)

4. Enjoy 3 wonderful children.

5. Ran a half marathon in Nashville, TN last April.

6. My mom's dad (born in 1903) was a casual acquaintance of Charles Lindbergh.

7. My dad's dad (born in 1900) played clarinet in the "Lincoln Mill Band" in Huntsville, Alabama (in the 20s)

8. My dad was a band director, choir director, and performed one season with New Orleans Opera one year in the 1950s. Dad had a lovely "irish" tenor.

9. My mom was a piano teacher, taught kindergarten in our home (before it was part of the public schools), and was a librarian.

10. I spent the next 6 years after high school sorting out who I am and how I would live, it was confusing, frustrating, even required meds a few times, but I got through it and have a life I am thankful to live.

Rules for the Award:

• Say thank you and give a link to the presenter of the award
• Share “10 Honest Things” about yourself
• Present the award to 10* other bloggers whose blogs you find brilliant in content and/or design or to those who have encouraged you
• Be sure to tell the 10* bloggers chosen that you are giving them the Honest Scrap award and provide the guidelines for them

*Or a number that you can reasonably accomplish in whatever mental/physical state you're in

My brilliant encouragers:

The Zen of Motherhood
1 door away from Heaven
Dancing with Cancer: Living with Mets, A New Normal
Slightly Off-Center, just a fraction of an inch
Fence Postings
Southern Sinful Bliss
Beacon of Hope
Softly Spoken
Breathings of My Heart
-Sweeter Poetry
A Portrait of the Human Heart

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All these blogs have something special to say to your heart!
Thank you each one...
Thanks Bad Mom!

Love Letter No 66 - Relaxed Love

Dear V,
When the brain switches off the busy network of
planning it is like a field of clover bursting
into bloom. Everything colored gray by planning
is brightened with the deep vibrant shades of
love's colors. The baby blues, hot pinks,
yearning yellows, lusty limes, ravishing
reds, passionate purples meld into
one sensation, relaxed love.

Turning off the phone, drawing the
curtains, lighting the candles,
warming the oils, massaging tense
muscles and tired tootsies, all leads
to the jumping off spot. All is peace, it's as
we wished, the quiet tones of
relaxation, basking in love.

With deep and tender affection,

LarryG

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Haiku - Halloween

Triangular Nose
Sniffing October's last breeze
Hmmm, pumpkin pie?...Brains?




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Click the "Jack-'O-Lantern's Nose" for a recipe idea!
Happy Halloween!

to bless respite

May balance be found for the
urgency of living moment by moment
through time spent reflectively.

May recall be given space
needed. May this action bring
fruit for ripe harvest.
May memory never be
a sacrifice on the
altar of immediacy.

Untapped potential, our
strength and song, awaits
each heart willing to lay
aside worry over now-ness.
May the waiting soon
pass into days of generational
sharing; mutual respect
for life's story on display.

Above all, may respite bring
the recollections needed to provide
confidence to go forward. May
confidence lend aid to
all who step back, take
a deep breath and enjoy the
great gifts of satisfaction
the "life story" has to give.

Love Letter No 65 - Sweeping Love

Dear G,
As the wind sweeps through the fire of autumn's showcase, so the tender regions of my heart have felt love sweep through heartstrings.

Every where there is sweeping: the wipers sweep the water away from windshield, a sweep of the broom gathers dust and debris, a flock of birds sweep into the marsh, clouds sweep over the sky, the moon sweeps the stars from the sky, the sun sweeps at dusk with every color of love.

And how this graceful love sweeps me up, draws me close, and offers promise without words.

And when we are swept up together, the crisp fall
surrounds but cannot penetrate the
warmth created by sweeping love.

With deep and tender affection,

LarryG


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Photo i-appropriated from ~ghettojack at deviant art - click the link to see more of Jack's super pics.
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All Wet

Summer's mist, Fall's rain
Winter's snowstorm, Spring's showers
Surprise! I'm all wet!

to bless journey

As day dawns within and without,
may the whisper of life bring light
and peace for hope's enjoyment.

May the desire onus divulges
give guidance through each
threshold.

May discovery lead to awakenings
of understanding for the heart.

May arrivals become homecomings
that affirm the journey's validity.

When the heart's condition becomes the
standard for determining the prize
received, may solutions yield choices
of profound peace.

And facing rearward from beyond
eternity, may the end seem
a small step that results in return
to all the possibility available
from day's journey.

Love Letter No 64 - Unfinished Love

Dear C,

My mind has been turning the word over
and over, "unfinished". It means so
much to me, this word and how it
describes who we are, where we are,
how we are in the thick of love together,
struggling with life, coexisting, supporting,
diverging and then reemerging closer than
before and discovering the "unfinished" borders
of life together.

Completion is a fine thing to apply to tasks in life,
well defined goals that are met mean a sense of
accomplishment. Yet, for us, my deepest
hope is for discovery, not arrival.
My hope is to explore, finding happiness,
together each day. We aren't about
"pie in the sky", it's the messy guts
of love and life together where we sort
the dreams one by one and then make
it happen.

We'll always find our greatest wealth, in
"unfinished" love.

With deep and tender affection,

LarryG

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ember

cold air inflames leaves
liquid embers promise warmth
love colors hot cheeks













i give all away
yet what you've given i have
head against your chest

to bless discovery

may the new day bring with it a hint of daring,
a willingness to risk more,
a hopefulness to engage new understandings,
a forgetfulness that keeps past failures
simply in the past, and innovation to
reach for more.

may the heart of life's discovery bring
discovery that thrills the heart.
may inner discoveries take in
universes and outer discoveries never
neglect the microcosm of the mind.

may gifts of discovery continue to
manifest long past the time when
discovery itself has faded and the
discovered has become part of dull
routine of the everyday.

may memory serve to remind that
all about is discovery and it is
only our entrance into the scene
that brings either a sense of boredom or
achieves fresh delight.

may each day be full of discovery,
to enlighten hope's new dawn.
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To celebrate Columbus Day and the adventuresome spirit within every person.

tornado

sucked up into a storm of love
a sure enough cat 5 pavement peeler
one that sticks pine needles in brick walls
whirling wind of emotional involvement
with other fragments of life spinning in the mix
like some scene out of the Wizard of Oz
where the cow flies by, and the house, and
the socks, and clothes line and all the rest
of life's mundane possessions
sucked in to a tornado of love
cause i was there once
it was good
i remember
don't you
think

Love Letter No 63 - Enough Love

Dear J,
The word is enough. Combine
enough with love, out pops
a beautiful statement. Enough love
is more than the minimum.
Enough love exceeds in
surprising ways. Enough love excites when
dullness strikes a blow. Enough
love prevails should sickness
threaten. Enough love is provision
when wealth may be meager.

In reality, enough love
brings the promise that
beyond every expectation
there is more.

Should I go on? That you
know deep inside
and understand my love,
this is enough.

With deep and tender affection,

LarryG

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Time

Memory holder

Marking every moment

future's promise - Time

to bless nature's mourning

May nature's own mourning be blessed...
As leaves fall to dark earth to bemoan a season's
passing swept by the squall of a frigid breeze into
crevices or paths to be moved aside in cleaning
or in simple tracing of steps -

May nature's own mourning be blessed...
When the water bursts forth from autumn's
burgeoned spillways pouring forth the offering
of gray skies and windblown landscape -

May nature's own mourning be blessed...
Upon the moon's rising at midday, as it spends
all afternoon pining for the shadows left in the
wintering hardwoods the previous evening -

May nature's own mourning be blessed...
In how the mud dries, cakes, splits into many
large flakey squares murmuring for water long
since evaporated -

May nature's own mourning be blessed...
Picturing ears twitching, eyes glassy unblinking,
the deer standing hidden in the grove waiting
fawn's return, in wonder to what is heard,
be it crashing near by, snarls, growls, metal crunching
bone, receiving a signal to run, experiencing an urge to stay -

May nature's own mourning be blessed...

filters

Filtering billions of genetic
particles per minute,
moment by moment
drawn nearer to each other.

The bolls have burst
with snowy fruit of early autumn.
I love to love you in
the throes of life's neediness.

A bluebird appears,
stout and rich with color.
The mockingbird, red tail
hawk, and the dove, all have flown,

Later, two starlings turn their
attention to one another,
in top of leaf barren tree,
rain floods descend.
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Love Letter No 62 - Breakfast Love

Dear Q,
Mornings are an explicit joy to share. Exuberant awakening is the theme. Shared life means broken eggs, yet, we don't have to walk on egg shells, the omelet of life is full of rich flavors. Sharing is always changing, each day a discovery, a voluptuous meld of smell and taste.

It is the gladness in my heart that speaks over and over; to serve breakfast has become more than a meal. Our brunch, a gracious predilection of giving hearts, proving action of the love feast we share.

With deep and tender affection,

LarryG


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