WHAT'S THE CONNECTION (photo) & LEGACY: THE COTTAGE AT THE EDGE (dream tanka series) by Roswila

LEGACY: THE COTTAGE AT THE EDGE

the cat's dragged garbage
in from somewhere: a chicken's
skeleton lies
darkly arched in the middle
of my dirty linoleum floor

as I grab the bones
I see that dust and grime lining
the small room's edges
can no longer be ignored:
I snatch at the fuzziness

it comes away from
the baseboards in a long string
that morphs into a
snaking thin black wire rising
from its hole in the wall

I begin stuffing
the wire back in the hole knowing
it's from the basement
but it resists my attempts,
it will not be re-hidden

a crash at the door!
I spring up and fling it open:
waves from the sea
off to the left, surge over
my worn down lintel

just as panic starts
to rise the surge drains off
into a chasm:
a deep nothingness outside
and to the right of the door

so ... the left side of my
cottage sits too close to the sea
and the right side rests
on the uncertain earth
at the edge of a chasm

surely my father
knew of this before he bought
this charming cottage,
or did he let appearances
deceive, and make an impulse buy?


[tanka series on a dream of 5-30-13. One of those jam packed hyperbolic but too true dreams. A further question I have after that last one is "...and how much of this legacy do I want to continue to buy into?" I.e., continue to live out. Photo "What's the Connection" 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 relate to 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.

Also please note that a dreamku is not intended as an interpretation of a dream, or even a complete and accurate rendering of one. A dreamku is my attempt to get down dream imagery/action that grabs me and, as I write about it, elicits my conscious written association and response. Nor do I believe that one has to remember dreams in order for them to do their work. In my understanding, we are much more than our conscious selves.

You may also note in any further reading on dreamku you may do, that in the beginning I stressed "showing, not telling." However, that has been changing for some time now. I now tend to "show" (the dream narrative) and cap if off with a "tell" (some reaction and/or insight I've had to the dream as I was writing about it).

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.

WHAT'S COOKIN' (photo) & [untitled] (dreamku) by Roswila

she dreams up breakfast
through the long hot night
silver haired crock pot


[initially a scifaiku on a dream of 9-8-09, revised slightly into a dreamku on 5-31-13. Scifaiku is another kissing cousin of haiku, similar to dreamku, with a science fiction, fantasy, cosmologic, or horror theme. The early scifaiku version did not have the words "silver haired," (hopefully) leaving the reader's imagination free to imagine a living crock pot (how's that for fantasy?). But on stumbling across the scifaiku version a couple weeks ago I itched to return it completely to its dream source. Which was not a dream image of a living crock pot, but a dreamed sense of constant cooking. It took days to find a simple and satisfying (at least for me) solution by adding just those two first words in the last line. Taking the crock pot out of the realm of the "literal" into the metaphorical. And I also hope, retaining a bit of the humor I felt on waking and trying to get the dream down on the page. Of course, all of this fuss probably could have been avoided by presenting the original version (i.e. sans "silver haired") as a dreamku. Just what something is called will often determine how it's interpreted. (I have to resist taking off from that statement into the influence and uses of titles and names.) However, I also wanted a more melodious third line. So additional words were necessary for both the sense and the music. Photo "What's Cookin'" 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 relate to 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.

Also please note that a dreamku is not intended as an interpretation of a dream, or even a complete and accurate rendering of one. A dreamku is my attempt to get down dream imagery/action that grabs me and, as I write about it, elicits my conscious written association and response. Nor do I believe that one has to remember dreams in order for them to do their work. In my understanding, we are much more than our conscious selves.

You may also note in any further reading on dreamku you may do, that in the beginning I stressed "showing, not telling." However, that has been changing for some time now. I now tend to "show" (the dream narrative) and cap if off with a "tell" (some reaction and/or insight I've had to the dream as I was writing about it).

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.

DANCE CLASS (photo) & SURPRISES (mixed dreamku series) Roswila

SURPRISES

although I'm involved in the preparations
it's to be my surprise birthday party

they ask me to make
phone calls to remind folk
of arrival time
one small surprise is how awkward
my friends seem to be on the phone

then a big surprise
comes when I readily strip
nude like everyone
it's not the most relaxed way
for me to party but I cope

a Capoeira*
class gets quickly organized
and as quickly taught
the men gather on the dance floor
for an end-of-class contest:

"Who's Learned the Most" -- I don't hesitate to join them

I love the strident
drum beats and do my best faux
Capoeira moves
few of the men focus enough
but some seen rather good

the biggest surprise
wanders slowly among us:
a female judge,
I'd not known women ever
became expert in this form

the winner's announced
and to my inexpert eye
appears well chosen
there's a second place winner
but he's out of the room

another man
says he'll accept the award
on his behalf
the judge says, "No, we'll just wait,
he'll return to the party,

there's a time for everything,
and now's the time to wait"


[a mix of tanka, one two liner, and a monoku on a dream of 5-29-13. *Capoeira = Brazilian in origins, it combines elements of martial arts, dance, and music. Wikipedia says it incorporates a lot of sweeping leg movements, which got my attention given my legs are what I most need to strengthen. (Using the staircase these weeks that our elevator's been out is a good beginning, arthritis and all.) There's a lot more in this dream but I'll leave it at the suggestion I hear that it might be good to start attending our Pilates classes again. Though not right now. As the dream says at the end I need to wait a bit. Photo "Dance Class" 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 relate to 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.

Also please note that a dreamku is not intended as an interpretation of a dream, or even a complete and accurate rendering of one. A dreamku is my attempt to get down dream imagery/action that grabs me and, as I write about it, elicits my conscious written association and response. Nor do I believe that one has to remember dreams in order for them to do their work. In my understanding, we are much more than our conscious selves.

You may also note in any further reading on dreamku you may do, that in the beginning I stressed "showing, not telling." However, that has been changing for some time now. I now tend to "show" (the dream narrative) and cap if off with a "tell" (some reaction and/or insight I've had to the dream as I was writing about it).

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.

SNOWFLAKE (photo) & GHOSTS (two non-dream haiku) by Roswila

GHOSTS


fallen white petals
tumbling down the railroad tracks
so many ghosts

* * * *

by a frosted window
I await the sight of your face
the sun always returns

* * * *


[two haiku (i.e., not dream based) written early 1990's when I was still living in New York city. Together, they reflect my mood today. Maybe the emotions generated by the Memorial Holiday, combined with worry about a new near-by wild fire sort of north of Santa Barbara drew me to them this morning. Hm, they're calling it the "White Fire." I'll never forget the first one after I moved here, "The Gap Fire," in the summer of 2008. I thought I saw snow flurries outside my window: ashes. Photo "Snowflake" 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 relate to 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.

Also please note that a dreamku is not intended as an interpretation of a dream, or even a complete and accurate rendering of one. A dreamku is my attempt to get down dream imagery/action that grabs me and, as I write about it, elicits my conscious written association and response. Nor do I believe that one has to remember dreams in order for them to do their work. In my understanding, we are much more than our conscious selves.

You may also note in any further reading on dreamku you may do, that in the beginning I stressed "showing, not telling." However, that has been changing for some time now. I now tend to "show" (the dream narrative) and cap if off with a "tell" (some reaction and/or insight I've had to the dream as I was writing about it).

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.

NEON ROSE (photo) & CITY SCENE (dreamku series) by Roswila

CITY SCENE

the soggy weather
worsens my horrendous mood
I scurry after
my long time friend complaining
every step of the way

endless frenzied swirling blatant honking

when I pause for breath
she turns to see if I'm OK
more whining tumbles
from my mouth while she stands
in suspended animation

when she laughs abruptly, an amused fusilade,
my mood blows apart raining giggles

nothing's really changed,
yet everything's totally new
in light of laughter


[a tanka, monoku, tanka, two-liner, and dreamku on a dream of 5-25-13. This was one of those dreams in which a physical sensation -- in this case my giggles -- felt totally real, as if I were actually giggling in my sleep. Maybe I was. I'm told I was a sleep talker and walker as a child, and I sob, "sing" and write poems and lyrics in my dreams, so maybe I also laugh. Photo "Neon Rose" 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 relate to 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.

Also please note that a dreamku is not intended as an interpretation of a dream, or even a complete and accurate rendering of one. A dreamku is my attempt to get down dream imagery/action that grabs me and, as I write about it, elicits my conscious written association and response. Nor do I believe that one has to remember dreams in order for them to do their work. In my understanding, we are much more than our conscious selves.

You may also note in any further reading on dreamku you may do, that in the beginning I stressed "showing, not telling." However, that has been changing for some time now. I now tend to "show" (the dream narrative) and cap if off with a "tell" (some reaction and/or insight I've had to the dream as I was writing about it).

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.

SNOW FLURRY (photo) & SOME UNSOLICITED ADVICE (a mix of dream tanka & two-liners) by Roswila

SOME UNSOLICITED ADVICE

look out the window!
do you really want to travel and
in such bad weather?
come on now, you know you don't
and this snowstorm's the way out

drifts are already
rippling along the dark streets
yes, you'll bear a blast
of his typical blame as frigid
as this storm for cancelling

but, truth be told,
he's no more at ease with
knowing what he knows
than you are: the world's always
storm-filled for folk like you

wild winds others can't hear shake you both,
making your footing tentative and insecure

so take care of yourself and remember:
magnet ends with the same polarity repel


[three tanka and two two-liners on a dream of 5-25-13. I did not hear a voice giving me advice in this dream, but it's underlying feeling was very much of "being told." Nicely, but being told nevertheless. That's why as soon as I put pencil to notepad (at a blurry 3:30 in the a.m.) I automatically cast this in an advisory voice. Photo "Snow Flurry" 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 relate to 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.

Also please note that a dreamku is not intended as an interpretation of a dream, or even a complete and accurate rendering of one. A dreamku is my attempt to get down dream imagery/action that grabs me and, as I write about it, elicits my conscious written association and response. Nor do I believe that one has to remember dreams in order for them to do their work. In my understanding, we are much more than our conscious selves.

You may also note in any further reading on dreamku you may do, that in the beginning I stressed "showing, not telling." However, that has been changing for some time now. I now tend to "show" (the dream narrative) and cap if off with a "tell" (some reaction and/or insight I've had to the dream as I was writing about it).

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.