small stones of gratitude - day 6

thank you
for crying today
*Ranginui -
it meant that
I didn't have to

*Ranginui = Father sky in Māori mythology; in honour of Māori Language Week here in Aotearoa New Zealand, 4 July - 10 July.

(Want to win the latest NZ haiku anthology, the taste of nashi? Details here.)

Salt Beneath the Skin: A Haibun

Looking down on Papamoa Beach, kids in coloured towels run from ocean to shower, then into the arms of mum. Surf lifesaving flags flicker - bright yellow and red - stark against the backdrop. Waves thunder onto the foreshore creating white caps that match the cumulus cloud. Wind grabs at my coat, my hair, makes my nose run, and still I catch birdsong from all directions, every tree, pines to pohutukawa. Traffic noise, a constant at my back, the car fumes don't reach my nose, for this I am grateful. Wooden bench, of adequate comfort, scattered with graffiti. The plaque reads: “In loving memory of Murray Dingle 28.7.1954 - 7.12.2001 'Salt beneath the skin'". Scratched to the right of this: 'Salt beneath the foreskin', my laughter taken away by the gusts, my smile firmly fixed. Hands now heavy, cold has set in as the sun retreats, I reacquaint them with the deep lined pockets of my jacket.

suspended from

an evening cloud

Mauao

Copyright © Kirsten Cliff
First published on the Tauranga City Libraries 'Memories a Plenty' Website here

Mauao is the Māori name for the mountain you see here. More commonly
called "The Mt" - short for Mount Maunganui - it is a New Zealand icon in
the Bay of Plenty region near where I live. Photo taken by Kirsten Cliff.

Sharing a Haiku for NaHaiWriMo - day twenty-seven

I'm writing a haiku a day for NaHaiWriMo offline. Here at Swimming in Lines of Haiku I'm sharing one of my published haiku each day:


waka taua -
paua eyes reflect
the afternoon midges


Published in the taste of nashi New Zealand Haiku (Windrift, 2008)