It's the time of year when light is returning, yet a shadow of despair is creeping around us - I barricade myself with words / poetry and painting; daily I express my gratitude for my home, friends and family, my art. I look for small delights. I keep practicing . . . persistence.
Untitled (double haiku)
Ruth Ann Howden
9" x 16"
Mixed Media painting / collage
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Head up and tail out
Mo'o in plumeria leaf
Dreaming in the scent
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Custodian of Liberty on Strike
The Statue of Liberty lays down by the shore
Putting out her torch in the bay
She has given up, enough with the hypocrisy
As the tide comes in, and flows out, Ms. Liberty wails
Calling for the superhero Maya to help
pull her out of deep despair
Superhero Maya Lin who folded the tragedy
And divisive energy of the Vietnam war
into a poem set in stone
Saying their names
Ms. Liberty knows that Maya is not alone
Many welcome all who wish to join their communities
Fear of change will not stop the change
What will it take to get Ms. Liberty
back on her pedestal?
Where will the flame come from
to relight her torch?
She cries her lament again and again
How can she welcome anyone to this current darkness
As the sun rises, as the sun sets
She cries with those yearning to be free
New Haiku
Home is where one sleeps
peacefully waking happy
deep in gratitude
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Juggling my thoughts
surprising combinations
ever new delights
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Reading calms my mind
letting go of present time
Lost in book sublime
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Custodial gift
Self-care by giving away
My art with a hug
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A haiku a day
keeps the compulsion at bay
while I simply play
"Speaking of friendships
everyone should have a bird
It won't deceive you"
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Visual Haiku
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I belong to the group, Humanists of Hawaii, and when they requested new lyrics for holiday songs, I found the exercise great for venting.
My contribution is set to We Three Kings of Orient Are; here's just the first verse and chorus (sparing you the rest of my rant):
We the judges of SCOTUS are,
Accepting gifts from near and from far
Right-wing leaning, somber proceeding
Following our TV star
O lead forever, our new king
Making deals that quickly bring
More riches to the one percent
Fear and hunger to the rest
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the entire song book,
a bakers dozen - unholiday song booklet is free to all at:
https://www.seedoflovehawaii.org/songs4all
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"Think lightly of yourself
and deeply of the world"
Miyamoto Musashi
(thanks Jamie)
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Words cannot come close to expressing
the great loss to our community of Liko Tancayo
Georgiette Likopualehua W.I.P. Tancayo
March 12 1961 – November 23 2024
I now turn my attention to the rare gift of
another day.
