hidden, but not ~ gogyohka

August 5, 2020August 6, 2020 / rivrvlogr / 27 Comments

hidden, but not
sturgeon in a broad expanse
merely elusive
knowing where to look
the moon always rises

This gogyohka is in response to Frank Tassone’s #Haikai Challenge #150: Sturgeon Moon.
The first full moon of August is called the Sturgeon Moon, Grain Moon, Barley Moon or Red Moon.

My attempts to photograph the full moon on Monday evening (11 hours past full moon)
were stymied by clouds. The moon was as elusive as a sturgeon.

Also shared with Just Sayin’, the Open Link Night prompt from Lillian at dVerse ~ Poets Pub.

Camera Shy ~ gogyohka

August 4, 2020 / rivrvlogr / 14 Comments

Camera Shy

kayak approaches
heron on river’s edge
almost in camera range
giant wings beat
gone downriver

kayak rounds the bend
heron on fallen tree
away and gone
missed opportunities
crows laugh, again and again

I have seen a horizon ~ gogyohka

July 25, 2020 / rivrvlogr / 13 Comments

I have seen a horizon
distant, still
but growing ever closer
no hurry to meet it
as it patiently waits

This gogyohka is inspired by Just Glad by Paul Cannon.

Image: Lake Ontario, 30 July 2011

wandering spirits ~ gogyohka

July 25, 2020 / rivrvlogr / 5 Comments

wandering spirits
held in thought
never captured
call to me
always out of reach

This gogyohka, inspired by water music by Kerfe Roig, is my response to
Colleen’s 2020 Weekly #Tanka Tuesday
#Poetry Challenge No. 187 #PhotoPrompt,
with the photo provided by Sally Cronin.

a glass raised ~ gogyohka

June 8, 2020 / rivrvlogr / 15 Comments

a glass raised
in the name of justice
broken by injustice
raised again and again
until justice is served

This gogyohka is my response to
RonovanWrites Weekly Haiku Challenge #309,
with the prompt words break and glass.

Image source: flickr.com – Dave Nitsche

everything is gray ~ tanka, kyoka, gogyohka

May 22, 2020July 31, 2020 / rivrvlogr / 28 Comments

The prompt for MTB: 5-Line Japanese Poetic Forms from Frank at dVerse Poets Pub is to write a tanka, kyoka, or gogyohka. Frank discusses each of the forms. I’ve tried to cover all three, in order. This series was a hard one to write.

bird with broken wing
beneath broken cedar branch
saved by helping hands
must be returned to the wild
before wild nature returns

broken clouds
in coming storm
offer hope
only an illusion
everything is gray

a soul is troubled
looking for escape
safe haven offered
troubles multiply
everyone suffers

Image source: Wikimedia Commons (edited here)

Blurred Borders

April 25, 2020April 25, 2020 / rivrvlogr / 6 Comments

obscure
our differences
equalized
common threat reminds us
what is true always was

~ Day 25 ~

Image source: Wikimedia Commons
(from U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention)
~ Special thanks to Kerfe Roig for the inspiration ~

Gogyohka for Merril

April 19, 2020April 19, 2020 / rivrvlogr / 24 Comments

in the darkness
a heart will remember
a treasured light
always held within
never really gone

~ Day 19 ~

Photo by Ha Jang on Unsplash

the permanence of henna ~ gogyohka

January 22, 2020January 22, 2020 / rivrvlogr / 13 Comments

the permanence of henna

the direction
of our inclinations
holds no pattern
carefree, the actions we take
the permanence of henna

While outside the required forms for Colleen’s Weekly #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry
Challenge No. 161 #PhotoPrompt, this gogyohka is my response,
with the provided photo (© Willow Willers).

Night Wind ~ gogyohka

November 2, 2019December 17, 2019 / rivrvlogr / 9 Comments

Night Wind

The unmistakable voices of the trees
calling out to the hidden moon,
seeking the caress of its light,
the end of their unease.
A midnight susseration.

This gogyohka is inspired by Merril Smith’s gogyohka, Night Wind.
Please read her original here.

Image: full moon, 22 December 2018
(right click image for larger view in new tab)