LETTING LOOSE (photo) & THIS MUCH IS CLEAR (dream tanka series) by Roswila

THIS MUCH IS CLEAR

at first it's only clear
she’s ashamed to be enraged,
this middle-aged nun

then I note seepage
through her habit from sores,
and her ire makes sense --
she’d never even grieved the rape
much less this disease it gave her

her will to forgive
and understand now shoved aside
by cleansing rage,
hoisting me on the horns
of a delicate dilemma:

offer no comfort
and leave her shame to fester,
or cradle her close
and risk turning off these tears
before they can do their work

I opt to hold her,
gently, as I whisper, yes,
yes, he had no right,
no right at all and you have
every right to this anger

an Irish lull-a-bye
sings in my memory
but for now I leave
it there -- I’ll know when the way
is clear for its heartful soothing


[six tanka on a dream of 11-2-12. Photo “Letting Loose” by Roswila]

BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO DREAMKU (& PHOTOS): The dream-based poems posted on this blog -- dreamku, tanka, two-liners, and monoku -- are offered in the spirit of collaboration. I have done my part. Now it’s your turn to jump in and see what comes up for you. I.e., there is no right or wrong way to understand or interpret any of these dream offerings. Even my own understandings of them change over time. And it gives me joy when a reader sees something in any of them that I have not.

For more in-depth exploration:

-- a brief post about both dreamku and my photos THE AREN'TS OF DREAMKU & ACCOMPANYING DIGITAL PHOTOS.

-- detailed three-part post about dreamku: "A DREAMKU PRIMER: Writing Haiku-Like Poems About Your Night Dreams": PART ONE: Introduction & Writing Dreamku as Dream Work; PART TWO: Elements of the Haiku Form Used in Dreamku; and PART THREE: How to Write Dreamku (the second and third parts have some overlap).

-- a brief up-dating post about the three-part "A DREAMKU PRIMER" -- Important Up-date to A DREAMKU PRIMER....".

* * * *

‘til next time, keep dreaming,






If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or poems, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”). Roswila's other blogs: ROSWILA’S TAROT GALLERY & JOURNAL; ROSWILA’S TAIGA TAROT; and TRYING TO HOLD A BOX OF LIGHT.

LIGHTING THE WAY (photo) & CHILDREN OF WAR (dreamku series) by Roswila

CHILDREN OF WAR

a group of babies
said to be orphaned by war
lies in a green field
several men approach
one by one they choose a baby

each man’s smile outshines
the sun as he uncovers
a hidden birthmark
or tattoo on his infant
proving his parenthood

beyond any doubt
these squirming bright-eyed babes
have found their fathers
baby giggles and soft wails
mix with baritone whispers

the men nod together in the field
like sunflowers bearing precious seed


[three tanka and a capping two-liner on a dream of 11-1-12. There’s a wee bit of day residue in this dream’s war imagery. Some of the pictures I’m seeing of the ravages of Lady Frankenstorm (superstorm Sandy) on my old home tri-state area back East, look like they were taken in a war zone. There’s a lot more at an immediate and personal level, but it’s too much to go into here. Suffice it to say it does have to do with feeling unfathered in some important respects. Photo “Lighting the Way” by Roswila]

BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO DREAMKU (& PHOTOS): The dream-based poems posted on this blog -- dreamku, tanka, two-liners, and monoku -- are offered in the spirit of collaboration. I have done my part. Now it’s your turn to jump in and see what comes up for you. I.e., there is no right or wrong way to understand or interpret any of these dream offerings. Even my own understandings of them change over time. And it gives me joy when a reader sees something in any of them that I have not.

For more in-depth exploration:

-- a brief post about both dreamku and my photos THE AREN'TS OF DREAMKU & ACCOMPANYING DIGITAL PHOTOS.

-- detailed three-part post about dreamku: "A DREAMKU PRIMER: Writing Haiku-Like Poems About Your Night Dreams": PART ONE: Introduction & Writing Dreamku as Dream Work; PART TWO: Elements of the Haiku Form Used in Dreamku; and PART THREE: How to Write Dreamku (the second and third parts have some overlap).

-- a brief up-dating post about the three-part "A DREAMKU PRIMER" -- Important Up-date to A DREAMKU PRIMER....".

* * * *

‘til next time, keep dreaming,






If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or poems, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”). Roswila's other blogs: ROSWILA’S TAROT GALLERY & JOURNAL; ROSWILA’S TAIGA TAROT; and TRYING TO HOLD A BOX OF LIGHT.

LOOKING BACK (photo) & ON DISTRACTION (dreamku series) by Roswila

ON DISTRACTION

my roommate and I
pack for a visit with
wealthy folk we’ve met
I’m looking forward to staying
in their large seaside home

but do I really
need to bring my desk along
yes, there’s a deadline
soon for artwork I agreed to
but won’t just my art tools suffice?

and, what’s more, did my
roommie even arrange for
a van and helpers
I forgot to check with her and
I know she tends to be scattered

ready or not we must depart dust and haste

is this frantic push
to visit with distant strangers
just more distraction?
I stop in my tracks and
check out where I already am


[three tanka, a monoku, with a capping tanka on a dream of 10-31-12. Photo “Looking Back” by Roswila]

BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO DREAMKU (& PHOTOS): The dream-based poems posted on this blog -- dreamku, tanka, two-liners, and monoku -- are offered in the spirit of collaboration. I have done my part. Now it’s your turn to jump in and see what comes up for you. I.e., there is no right or wrong way to understand or interpret any of these dream offerings. Even my own understandings of them change over time. And it gives me joy when a reader sees something in any of them that I have not.

For more in-depth exploration:

-- a brief post about both dreamku and my photos THE AREN'TS OF DREAMKU & ACCOMPANYING DIGITAL PHOTOS.

-- detailed three-part post about dreamku: "A DREAMKU PRIMER: Writing Haiku-Like Poems About Your Night Dreams": PART ONE: Introduction & Writing Dreamku as Dream Work; PART TWO: Elements of the Haiku Form Used in Dreamku; and PART THREE: How to Write Dreamku (the second and third parts have some overlap).

-- a brief up-dating post about the three-part "A DREAMKU PRIMER" -- Important Up-date to A DREAMKU PRIMER....".

* * * *

‘til next time, keep dreaming,






If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or poems, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”). Roswila's other blogs: ROSWILA’S TAROT GALLERY & JOURNAL; ROSWILA’S TAIGA TAROT; and TRYING TO HOLD A BOX OF LIGHT.

THE GRIDDLE (photo) & THE FIELD OF PLAY (dreamku series) by Roswila

THE FIELD OF PLAY

the children’s story
book lies on the gridiron –
in quick succession
each drawing of a jungle
animal pops up out of it

they pile together,
exhausted by the leap from
image to full life,
lolling around like a lion’s
pride on a sunny savannah

the young children who tossed the book now no more
than dancing shadows against the distant bleachers


[two tanka and a capping two-liner on a dream of 10-31-12. Photo “The Griddle” by Roswila]

BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO DREAMKU (& PHOTOS): The dream-based poems posted on this blog -- dreamku, tanka, two-liners, and monoku -- are offered in the spirit of collaboration. I have done my part. Now it’s your turn to jump in and see what comes up for you. I.e., there is no right or wrong way to understand or interpret any of these dream offerings. Even my own understandings of them change over time. And it gives me joy when a reader sees something in any of them that I have not.

For more in-depth exploration:

-- a brief post about both dreamku and my photos THE AREN'TS OF DREAMKU & ACCOMPANYING DIGITAL PHOTOS.

-- detailed three-part post about dreamku: "A DREAMKU PRIMER: Writing Haiku-Like Poems About Your Night Dreams": PART ONE: Introduction & Writing Dreamku as Dream Work; PART TWO: Elements of the Haiku Form Used in Dreamku; and PART THREE: How to Write Dreamku (the second and third parts have some overlap).

-- a brief up-dating post about the three-part "A DREAMKU PRIMER" -- Important Up-date to A DREAMKU PRIMER....".

* * * *

‘til next time, keep dreaming,






If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or poems, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”). Roswila's other blogs: ROSWILA’S TAROT GALLERY & JOURNAL; ROSWILA’S TAIGA TAROT; and TRYING TO HOLD A BOX OF LIGHT.

KNOCK, KNOCK! (photo) & ACCOMODATIONS (dreamku series) by Roswila

ACCOMODATIONS

her huge wood bookcase
nearly fills the living room
of my apartment
yes, she’s moving in but this
leviathan can’t remain here

it gets shoved with great
effort toward her bedroom
but winds up in mine,
its hollow bulk looming
and mildly reflective

I barely have room
to breathe as I stand staring
at its dark expanse
how will we ever manipulate
it through her small bedroom door

I start to visualize angles and leverages,
but why am I being so accommodating?


[three tanka capped by a two-liner on a dream of 10-29-12. This one gave me a chuckle as I started to draft the dreamku. A rather mordant chuckle at the idea of a huge bookcase being treated like a hot potato. Or like that well-known image of an elephant in the middle of the living room that no one wants to acknowledge, much less own up to. Photo “Knock, Knock!” by Roswila]

BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO DREAMKU (& PHOTOS): The dream-based poems posted on this blog -- dreamku, tanka, two-liners, and monoku -- are offered in the spirit of collaboration. I have done my part. Now it’s your turn to jump in and see what comes up for you. I.e., there is no right or wrong way to understand or interpret any of these dream offerings. Even my own understandings of them change over time. And it gives me joy when a reader sees something in any of them that I have not.

For more in-depth exploration:

-- a brief post about both dreamku and my photos THE AREN'TS OF DREAMKU & ACCOMPANYING DIGITAL PHOTOS.

-- detailed three-part post about dreamku: "A DREAMKU PRIMER: Writing Haiku-Like Poems About Your Night Dreams": PART ONE: Introduction & Writing Dreamku as Dream Work; PART TWO: Elements of the Haiku Form Used in Dreamku; and PART THREE: How to Write Dreamku (the second and third parts have some overlap).

-- a brief up-dating post about the three-part "A DREAMKU PRIMER" -- Important Up-date to A DREAMKU PRIMER....".

* * * *

‘til next time, keep dreaming,






If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or poems, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”). Roswila's other blogs: ROSWILA’S TAROT GALLERY & JOURNAL; ROSWILA’S TAIGA TAROT; and TRYING TO HOLD A BOX OF LIGHT.

THE HEART OF THE MATTER (photo) & SHAPING UP (dreamku series) by Roswila

SHAPING UP

ah! exercising
feels so awfully good
especially stretching
and she’s surprised the teacher
lets her work in her own way

maybe it’s dumb but
she’s proud after all this time
to be flexible,
tighter than before but no worse
than some of the slim young folk

the teacher paces,
his forbearance wearing thin
he starts to speak of
a new way of eating that’s
received raves and awards

she continues her
favorite series of yoga
floor stretches
his food proselytizing
rolling off each line and curve

there’s nothing new under the sun for her
about diet – it’s grateful acceptance that works


[four tanka and a capping two-liner on a dream of 10-28-12. Oh my goodness, talk about wish fulfillment, especially in that exercise portion. Yes, I can still touch my toes and bend and reach, but yoga stretches like I used to do? Not gonna happen, not with these knees. But it did feel so good in the dream, just as it did when I was able to do them. And the basic point of the dream – grateful acceptance – is right here now, for the accepting. It may seem like a bit of a contradiction but I’ve been working at acceptance, of everything. Each time I remind myself to embrace whatever it is that’s happening, not to fight it or try to understand it all out of shape, is like a dress rehearsal for a time when I’ll simply accept. Same goes for gratitude. Acceptance and gratitude, two sides to the same coin of the moment. Photo “The Heart of the Matter” by Roswila]

BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO DREAMKU (& PHOTOS): The dream-based poems posted on this blog -- dreamku, tanka, two-liners, and monoku -- are offered in the spirit of collaboration. I have done my part. Now it’s your turn to jump in and see what comes up for you. I.e., there is no right or wrong way to understand or interpret any of these dream offerings. Even my own understandings of them change over time. And it gives me joy when a reader sees something in any of them that I have not.

For more in-depth exploration:

-- a brief post about both dreamku and my photos THE AREN'TS OF DREAMKU & ACCOMPANYING DIGITAL PHOTOS.

-- detailed three-part post about dreamku: "A DREAMKU PRIMER: Writing Haiku-Like Poems About Your Night Dreams": PART ONE: Introduction & Writing Dreamku as Dream Work; PART TWO: Elements of the Haiku Form Used in Dreamku; and PART THREE: How to Write Dreamku (the second and third parts have some overlap).

-- a brief up-dating post about the three-part "A DREAMKU PRIMER" -- Important Up-date to A DREAMKU PRIMER....".

* * * *

‘til next time, keep dreaming,






If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or poems, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”). Roswila's other blogs: ROSWILA’S TAROT GALLERY & JOURNAL; ROSWILA’S TAIGA TAROT; and TRYING TO HOLD A BOX OF LIGHT.

THREE'S A CROWD (photo) & FOR SALE (tanka & dreamku) by Roswila

FOR SALE

three women give me
an object each to sell at
the huge flea market
they tell me to keep what I make
and my total take’s quite good

pleased, yet I wonder
why they gave me their old stuff
and will they again


[a tanka and a dreamku on a dream of 10-27-12. This was a barely visual dream, which is rather unusual for me. But even an apparently bland or small dream can often offer several different ways to relate to it, as this one has (too much to go in to here). I did get a chuckle from this day residue: I’ve been working rather assiduously recently on cleaning out closets and other spaces in my rooms, and stacking up piles of stuff to offer to friends or to our Thrift Store to sell (or failing all that, to throw away). Photo “Three’s A Crowd” by Roswila]

BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO DREAMKU (& PHOTOS): The dream-based poems posted on this blog -- dreamku, tanka, two-liners, and monoku -- are offered in the spirit of collaboration. I have done my part. Now it’s your turn to jump in and see what comes up for you. I.e., there is no right or wrong way to understand or interpret any of these dream offerings. Even my own understandings of them change over time. And it gives me joy when a reader sees something in any of them that I have not.

For more in-depth exploration:

-- a brief post about both dreamku and my photos THE AREN'TS OF DREAMKU & ACCOMPANYING DIGITAL PHOTOS.

-- detailed three-part post about dreamku: "A DREAMKU PRIMER: Writing Haiku-Like Poems About Your Night Dreams": PART ONE: Introduction & Writing Dreamku as Dream Work; PART TWO: Elements of the Haiku Form Used in Dreamku; and PART THREE: How to Write Dreamku (the second and third parts have some overlap).

-- a brief up-dating post about the three-part "A DREAMKU PRIMER" -- Important Up-date to A DREAMKU PRIMER....".

* * * *

‘til next time, keep dreaming,






If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or poems, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”). Roswila's other blogs: ROSWILA’S TAROT GALLERY & JOURNAL; ROSWILA’S TAIGA TAROT; and TRYING TO HOLD A BOX OF LIGHT.