Kristjaan at Carpe Diem invites us to write haiku, tanka or other Japanese poetry inspired by the song ‘Wonderful Life’ by Colin Vearncombe (aka Black).
Colin passed away surrounded by his family just under a year ago and this post is also a tribute to him and his music. Below is a video clip of him performing the song he became most famous for:
With love from Eivor, Pearl and Xenia xxx
Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.
Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ200, settings: f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 160 and f/4, 1/640 s, ISO 160.
It feels as if there is a higher force at play from way beyond the stars. When a physical journey brings rescue dogs to their new home their inner journey is just beginning.
Eivor knew straight away. ‘I have come home and I am here to stay’. Going out for the first time was frightening for him. His previous world had been so small. The soothing sounds of a flute helped to calm his nerves. He now looks forward to every new adventure. Pearl was too frightened to go into friends’ houses on our travels and seemed worried that we would leave her there. When she heard the song ‘In The Light of Love’ for the first time she flung her front paws around my neck and gave me a big hug. We both knew in that moment that we would be just fine. That we are meant to travel this journey side by side.
in the light of love
moon journeys through the sky
every day dazzles
Mish at dVerse Poets has invited us to choose one line from a favourite song and grow our own poem from it. I chose the line ‘In the light of love’ from the song ‘In the light of love/om shree dhanvantre namaha’ by Deva Primal, Miten and Manose. Below is a video clip for you to enjoy:
With love from Eivor, Pearl and Xenia xxx
Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.
Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ200, setting: iA, 1/200 s.
The town’s population has almost doubled this Easter break. Big smiles on pale faces tell us who escaped from city life. They are prepared for all manner of Scottish weather and delighted to see the sun.
“Who’s this little Speedy Gonzalez then!” says a bearded man in a Glaswegian accent. Eivor looks deep into the man’s eyes. He does not understand the words. He understands the energy and warmth behind them and touches the man’s hand with his nose.
energy of love
in timbre of a warm voice
the universe sings
Lillian at dVerse invites us to incorporate the song title of a top song from the year we were born into a poem, or from when we were between five and ten years old. A month after I was born ‘Speedy Gonzalez’ by Pat Boon was number one in the Dutch charts and held its position there for four weeks. I had to smile when I saw this as several people have referred to Eivor as ‘Speedy Gonzalez’ over time.
When I was ten years old a Dutch ‘prog-rock’ band called Kayak appeared on the scene and performed a song on television called ‘See See The Sun’. I did not speak any English at the time and could not understand a single word, yet to me it seemed they were channelling something very special from a place much bigger than I could ever imagine.
Below is a video clip where Kayak bring us an emotional rendition of ‘See See The Sun’ at Paradiso in Amsterdam during a tribute concert for Pim Koopman, a founder member of the band, who had passed away the previous year.
With love from Eivor, Pearl and Xenia xxx
Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.
Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ200, setting: Action, 1/800 s.
At one of the shelters where I volunteered the radio was always tuned into a classical music station and the soothing melodies that drifted past the kennels had a calming effect on the wise old souls who would look deep into your eyes from behind the bars. At home too, many of our adoptees would soon let out a deep sigh and stretch into a relaxed roach while the soft notes from a flute or piano filled the room.
At Carpe Diem Haiku Kristjaan has introduced us to a number of female composers I had never heard of before. When I played a recording from one of his posts on my phone Pearl went into a deep relaxation and Eivor listened very attentively before asking me to play that piece again.
heavenly music
part of us remembers
the angel’s harp
Walter is saying goodbye to us at dVerse Poets to take care of his wife of 32 years and put his poetry on the back-burner for a little while. Like so many of us who care for loved ones, whether four-legged or on two legs, there is so much I learned along the way from those who went there before me.
When you roll up your sleeves to look after others it is important you also take time to roll them back down and look after you. The more you look after yourself the better you are able to care for those you love.
Your muse
becomes the carer’s carer
illuminating
the changing colours
of the dragonfly.
