Halloween Costume

projecting coolness

butterfly rises to  meet

the rest of her life

mateless now, she cleverly

disguises inner tremble

(Prompts: coolness, butterfly, rising, tremble)

Recipe for Procrastination

unfortunately

apple crisp recipe says

first peel the apples

(Daily Haiku Prompt: crisp)

Priorities (prompt: fallen)

pride before a fall

but having almost fallen

priorities change

maintaining independence

while accepting needed help

John Lennon Quote

On October 9, I'd like to share my favourite story about John Lennon. 

When John was five, his teacher asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up.

"Happy," he said.

"I don't think you understand the question," she said.

"I don't think you understand the answer," he replied. 

Imagine by John Lennon

October (prompt: vivid)

October's vivid 

colour burst almost makes me

forget to dread winter

Rereading Gatsby, September 24

rereading Gatsby:

a hopeless attempt to

harvest a stray strand

of creative inspiration

on Fitzgerald's birthday

Daily Haiku Prompts: harvest, strand

Night Owl's Equinox

if equinox means

equally light and dark,

explain dark morning!

slept through radio's alarm

as if it were winter now

Photo by Taras Slawynch

Prompt: equinox

La La Land: Here's To The Fools Who Dream

I watched La La Land a few nights ago, almost ten years after I first saw it in the movie theatre.

Here's my review from January 2017:

https://owlsquill.blogspot.com/2017/01/dancing-down-freeway-of-life-movie.html

I was prepared to feel that the ending was bittersweet.

SPOILER ALERT

When I first watched La La Land, I found myself wishing that Mia and Sebastian could have had a completely happy ending, as shown in the imaginary flashback/flashforward alternative ending. But they only got part of what they wanted, career success. They didn't end up with each other because their successes were based in distant locations.

Mia suggests to her French husband that they turn off the busy freeway to take The Road Less Travelled, a side street and they follow the sound of jazz into a club called Seb's. Inside they find Sebastian playing jazz with his group. He looks up after the song ends and spots Mia with another man. As he plays a new solo piece, there is a flashback to the happy times he shared with Mia five years ago, and extends the fantasy into the present day, where they are married and have their own family. But in the real present time they have found other spouses and have families.

Mia and her husband leave the club. But first Sebastian and Mia share a long silent look, smile faintly, and nod at each other.

This isn't sadness or regret.

It's gratitude.

They were not meant to be romantic partners forever. 

They were each other's muse, inspiring the other to continue to follow their true dream and not to settle for anything less. 

Here's to the fools who dream...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVVqlm8Fq3Y

Another Day of Sun, La La Land opening scene

New Year Haiku

new moon means new year

not seeking nirvana, just

serendipity,

creativity,

sustained good health, and

hope for better times 

(prompts: moon, nirvana)

Michael's Rain

rained on my birthday

got soaked dashing to the

restaurant: drippy mess

rain was you

showering me with love

reminding me to laugh

Laughter in the Rain, Neil Sedaka

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjEkrAsUS0E

Ontario (prompt: geese)

Sailboats racing on Lake Ontario, seen from The Pearl Harbourfront's window, 2013.

Canada geese honk:

egotistical eagle

must accept defeat

Canadians keep 

their elbows up and

won't rename their lakes

Daily Haiku Prompt: geese

"Ontario" is an Indigenous word and is more than 400 years old. It means "beautiful lake" or "sparkling water."

Disappearing Act

 even the full moon's

orange-tinted eclipse fades

after a few hours

leaving just a memory

to scatter among the stars

(Daily Haiku Prompts: full moon)

No Dogs photo

 I took this photo about 1986 in San Francisco. I think it was on Telegraph Hill near Coit Tower.

                                                                        NO DOGS

                                                       TEACUP POODLES EXCEPTED

                                                                  (Mural artist unknown)

August Travel Advisory

"Pack light," they advised.

packed lightly for two climates--

caught cold in first one

shivered in Copenhagen

sniffled and sneezed while in Rome

Daily Haiku Prompt: pack

Two Concrete Poems

                                                 Concrete Poem #1

MEN

    O!

P       a                      u                          

                                                         s                 

                                                                                                               e

                                                    Gridlock

                               BEEP

beepbeepbeepbeepBEEPbeepbeepbeepbeepbeep

                               BEEP

tanka for Michael

discovered some shoes

bought many years ago that

Michael never wore

your shoes fit me perfectly

you're my guardian angel

An Ill Wind

The phrase, "It's an ill wind that blows no good," didn't originate with Shakespeare. Although he used it in Henry IV, Part II, it was used as a common proverb at least a century before he was born.

Its meaning is that even the worst calamity benefits someone, somehow.

Anyway, there's been a lot of bad stuff in the air lately. 

And as, usual, Voldemort is trying to use it for  his own benefit.

If Voldemort can threaten tariffs because of Canadian wildfire smoke, I suggest that Canada tariff the U.S. for sending their hurricanes to us.

They're both a lot of misdirected hot air.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld6fAO4idaI

Peter, Paul and Mary, Blowin' in the Wind

Plot Twists of Life

A  favourite one-liner I saw online:

When you don't like the way your life is going, look up at the sky and yell, "PLOT TWIST!"

Lately life has seemed like a roller coaster. But that's a terrible cliche. The editor in me wants to improve that overused phrasing.

Instead of a roller coaster, I've decided to see life as a San Francisco cable car. 

Sure, I'm still going over some steep hills and then back down them. 

But I'm hanging onto the handrail and enjoying the pretty scenery instead of just feeling nauseated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUODdPpnxcA

Paul Simon, Slip Slidin' Away

Rainy Day Owl #1

owl as a prompt

brings joy to my morning and

dispels stormy clouds

Daily Haiku Prompt: owl

Rainy Day Women #12 & 35, Bob Dylan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm-po_FUmvM   

Roses Rage

Rose Garden yanked out

replaced by a patio--

Jackie's ghost rages

lacking Jackie's taste and class

a modern-day Medusa

(Daily Haiku Prompts: roses, rage)