A beautiful contemplation…

This is actually Pathway Poem #22, but I decided to use a title instead. The poem today is by Paul Quenon, a Trappist monk whose novice master and spiritual director at the abbey of Gethsemani was Thomas Merton. The poem is found in Unquiet Vigil: New and Selected Poems published by Paraclete Press. In the […]

Who Is Talking to Whom — Pathways to God

LaMon is a fellow blogger I met over at Mark’s Naturalist Weekly where we all enjoy sharing haiku and nature. Some of you will deeply appreciate this one.

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Mark’s Naturalist Weekly

We have entered the micro-season of “The Earthworms Rise.” This is the first micro-season of the mini-season of First Summer. To celebrate this season we will learn about earthworms and read seasonal haiku from Basho, Buson, Issa, and Reichhold.

Micro-Season: “The Earthworms Rise” (2023) — Naturalist Weekly

Mark’s invitation is to write about any invertebrate, so I chose a Spring phenomenon. This annual occurrence always excites me, since it presages lush, fragrant blooms…

I rest in sunshine
they work while sipping nectar
ants on peonies

Micro-Season: “The Frost Stops the Rice Grows” (2023) — Naturalist Weekly

We have entered the micro-season of “The Frost Stops the Rice Grows .” To celebrate this season we will learn about how to prepare a paddy for seedlings and then read seasonal haiku by Basho, Issa, Buson, and Reichhold.

Micro-Season: “The Frost Stops the Rice Grows” (2023) — Naturalist Weekly

Here’s my response to this week’s prompt…

Haiku #25

Micro-Season: “The First Reeds Grow” (2023) — Naturalist Weekly

We have entered the micro-season of “The First Reeds Grow.” This is the first micro-season of the mini-season of Grain Rain. To celebrate this season, we will learn a little about reeds and then read seasonal haiku by Basho, Issa, Buson, and Reichhold.

Micro-Season: “The First Reeds Grow” (2023) — Naturalist Weekly

Thanks to Mark’s Naturalist Weekly, I’m also prompted to go exploring for new spring reeds along the lagoon today! Here’s a haiku from a couple years ago…

Haiku #20

Micro-Season: “The Rainbow First Appears” (2023) — Naturalist Weekly

We have entered the micro-season of “The First Rainbow Appears.” This is the third micro-season of the mini-season of Clear and Bright. To celebrate this season, we will learn a little about rainbows and then read seasonal haiku by Reichhold, Basho, Issa, and Buson.

Micro-Season: “The Rainbow First Appears” (2023) — Naturalist Weekly

My response to this week’s prompt….

We gazed out windows
On our nursery bookshelf
the book of rainbows

Micro-Season: “Thunder Raises Its Voice” (2023) — Naturalist Weekly

We have entered the micro-season of “Thunder Raises its Voice ” This is the third micro-season of the mini-season of Spring Equinox. To celebrate this season, we will learn about thunderstorms and read some seasonal haiku by Basho, Buson, Issa, and Reichhold.

Micro-Season: “Thunder Raises Its Voice” (2023) — Naturalist Weekly

My response to this week’s prompt, inspired by a thunderstorm last night…

flashing light wakes me
thunder rolls over the lake
—turning on my bed—

Spring Under the Cherry Blossoms — Lady Budd

“What a strange thing! to be alive beneath cherry blossoms.” Kobayashi Issa, Poems Kobayashi Issa speaks of the beauty of life and the fragility of existence. The brevity of life and the transient beauty of cherry blossoms compels us to reflect on the briefness of a human life. There is a subtle call to action, […]

Spring Under the Cherry Blossoms — Lady Budd

Sharing Rebecca Budd’s blog post is my response to the Naturalist Weekly’s prompt for this week’s micro and mini season.

https://naturalistweekly.com/2023/03/10/micro-season-the-first-peach-blossoms-2023/

Original

Adam inhaled the breath of God,
mingled it with doubt,
shifted blame, exhaled deceit;
Paradise was lost.

Job declared who gave him life;
with comprehension gone,
tears and pleas, pain and death;
his breath in sync with God.

Messiah poured out the Spirit
freely on His companions.
Men and women inhaled love;
began again the Kingdom.

I need inspiration to live
poetry from God’s imagery.
To inhale His holy breath,
I must exhale my own.


Biblical references: Genesis 1:2, 2:7; Job 1:21, 27:3, 32:8, 33:4;
Ecclesiastes 12:7; John 20:22
Photo: Hilmar Derksen