Queens, NY (1930's photo) & YOU CAN'T GO HOME AGAIN (dreamku series) by Roswila

YOU CAN’T GO HOME AGAIN

taped to door after
building door along the street
pink eviction slips
have I made the trip back to my
old neighborhood for nothing?

where in this welter
of endings is the doctor’s
office I’m to visit?
it’s past my appointment time
and it’s nowhere to be found

my arms start to ache
from carrying so much stuff
I set it all down
in a corridor of doors
with eviction notices

I make a fast check
of this long empty hallway
returning quickly
only to find someone’s
absconded with my things

what a pretty fix
no more doctor’s office and
now my belongings –
chasing after the janitor
I carp about this theft

I pass a cross corridor and neatly piled there
rests all my things, my precious endless stuff

a cleaning person
stored it all to keep it safe
is my face red!


[five tanka capped by a two-liner and a dreamku on a dream of 3-22-13. Interesting that the only color in this dream is those pink eviction slips (the blushing at the end is metaphorical). As if the only life is in the leaving. 1930’s photo: Only one long block from the scene of the dream, right near where I lived in Queens, NY for 24 years before moving to CA. Although this photo is of a shopping area (then and now) the buildings’ style is also that of the apartment buildings in the immediate area, and the feel of this photo is much like that of the dream: old and colorless (except for those pink slips)]

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:

-- very brief comparison of dreamku and haiku: DREAMKU ARE NOT HAIKU

-- 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 short 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.

LIFE GOES ON (photo) & IN THE END (dreamku series) by Roswila

IN THE END

the six adults leave
the conference room their breaths
smelling of almonds
their suicide pact fully
acknowledged and enacted

this is better than
the long drawn-out deaths they’d
otherwise suffer
they start sharing memories
from their soon to end lives

the first one talks of
his life-long employment:
acting like a child
his small stature allowing
him to entertain endlessly

others speak -- the past more alive than they

the final adult
shares not a memory but
what he’d always wished:
at the last to dive into
a wild jungle river,

an adventurer to the end by an alligator’s bite
but now he sees that ‘gators wear many guises


[three tanka, a monoku, a tanka, and a capping two-liner on a dream of 3-21-13. Just in case I haven’t made the underlying point (at least the most important one for me) to this dream clear, it’s not about suicide. It’s about not really living while we’re alive; that there are many forms of death, not just of the body. Staying stuck in the past is the “death” being highlighted in the dream. The last tanka and capping two-liner put me in mind of that Shakespeare quote: Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once. Of course, there’s also Hemingway’s response to that idea: The brave dies perhaps two thousand deaths if he's intelligent. He simply doesn't mention them. Photo “Life Goes On” by Roswila, but I still hold you in my heart, Matthew, harbinger of spring.]

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:

-- very brief comparison of dreamku and haiku: DREAMKU ARE NOT HAIKU

-- 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 short 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.

SANDSTORM (photo) & ON BEING TOUCHY (four dream tanka) by Roswila

ON BEING TOUCHY

the sandy landscape’s
dotted with yellow sticky notes
each flag marks a spot
where deliberate digging
created a depression

in each depression
of varying depth and
sophistication
a living body or two
hides or sleeps or hooks up

removing a flag
can prove to be dangerous,
no matter the need
to file these yellow notes
away for future reference

any touching on
a sandy cave, if only
to remove a flag,
and a choking cloud rises
like the bite of an angry ghost


[four tanka on a dream of 3-20-13. This could have as easily been titled “On Being Triggered.” For some reason, yesterday I was excrutiatingly (and also compassionately) aware of the trigger points of other folk. Also far less aware of my own all too numerous sink holes, which is rather unusual. Lots to ponder here. Photo “Sandstorm” 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:

-- very brief comparison of dreamku and haiku: DREAMKU ARE NOT HAIKU

-- 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 short 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.

LETTING GO (photo) & ONE QUICK BREATH (dreamku series) by Roswila

ONE QUICK BREATH

the man leaves his wife
for a more “appropriate”
relationship
I’m still angry at him as
I look at living photos

his new wife’s daughter
sparkles with six year-old charm
and clearly quick wits,
by her side infant quintuplets
wiggle, fat and happy

though rather challenged
mentally the four boys
shine with alertness –
the man’s new father role
obviously works for them all

in one quick breath I release my anger
one can’t accept gifts in fisted hands


[three tanka and a two-liner on a dream of 3-19-13. Well, this certainly continues on from the dream monoku I posted yesterday. I did check in with The Tarot, which was helpful but as is often its wont, it was rather non-specific. However, as sometimes happens, that Tarot work seeded this clarifying dream. Photo “Letting Go” 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:

-- very brief comparison of dreamku and haiku: DREAMKU ARE NOT HAIKU

-- 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 short 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.

IN THE GRIP OF THE MOMENT (photo) & "my hand aches..." (old monoku) by Roswila

my hand aches from holding on it lets go


[old dreamku from January 2006 recently turned into a monoku. An all too familiar experience in life for me, metaphorically speaking. Often only when the pain of holding on gets too great will I let go and take a risk of some sort. The odd thing is that when the letting go happens it feels as simple as taking a breath, almost happening under its own volition. At the time of the source dream I had been struggling for years to hold on to the apartment I was living in. And it finally got through to me that I could not stay there and would have to risk moving, maybe even out of New York City. It was two years before I could make it happen, but I've been in California now for five years. I think I'll check in with The Tarot to see if I can identify what is drawing me to this old 'ku at present. Just what particular holding on really needs attention. Photo "In the Grip of the Moment" 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:

-- very brief comparison of dreamku and haiku: DREAMKU ARE NOT HAIKU

-- 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 short 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.

"this close..." (haiga) & PATTERNS (two dreamku series) by Roswila

PATTERNS

Dream One:

she finally finds
a job after all these years
the salary’s good
and the boss seems nice enough
but it requires multi-tasking

just the sort of work
she could never really stand
give her one level
of responsibility
to dive into and watch her shine

but she’s not a many armed goddess
and constant interruptions fry her brain

it seems these are the only jobs around today
young brains must be wired very differently


Dream Two:

her preemie baby’s also retarded
so tiny so sweet so very fragile

they finally bring
her home from the hospital
we’re all delighted
to have a chance to hold
and cuddle this precious gift

yes, the mother says,
we love her dearly and wouldn’t
change her for the world
but please petition doctors
to learn more about mitosis

about that splitting of cells at their very hearts
where the pattern gets laid for the rest of a life


[two separate dreamku series on two different dreams of 3-17-13. Image: a haiga (drawing and haiku) 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:

-- very brief comparison of dreamku and haiku: DREAMKU ARE NOT HAIKU

-- 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 short 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.

NOTHING GOLD CAN STAY (photo) & ALL IN HOW YOU LOOK AT IT (two dreamku series) by Roswila

ALL IN HOW YOU LOOK AT IT

Dream One:

left out for easy
access her paperwork pile
gets stolen away
and there’s only her word
to prove she even stashed it there

then there’s the gossip
about the furniture stolen
from these apartments
and that’s why they’re no longer
rented out as furnished

we wait for more proof
that what we all know happens
actually happens
while in the meantime
we’re being stolen blind


Dream Two:

we ride around and
around the full parking lot –
beneath the sun’s glare
dead leaves scuttle and gather
while we bemoan better days

a sudden yell and
we look toward the entrance –
a friend chases off
a mugger armed with a switch blade
with her own bare fisted ire

we begin circling
the lot again: how different
it all appears now
wind and sun drape marvelous
suggestive shadows here then there

and the scuttling leaves
fly then land like woodland fairies
moved by simple joy –
how did it all change so fast?
it’s all in how you look at it


[two dreamku series on two separate dreams of 3-16-13. Photo “Nothing Gold Can Stay” 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:

-- very brief comparison of dreamku and haiku: DREAMKU ARE NOT HAIKU

-- 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 short 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.