Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Cherry Blossoms



sing 12
photo by Totomai
What a strange thing!
to be alive
beneath cherry blossoms.


In the cherry blossom's shade
there's no such thing
as a stranger.


Everyone feels grief
when cherry blossoms scatter.
Might they then be tears–
those drops of moisture falling
in the gentle rains of spring? 


surprise
photo by Totomai




Midweek Motif ~ Cherry Blossoms


Cherry blossoms mean springtime and cherries in summer, yum!  They also stand in for clouds, impermanence, beauty and sadness and more.  We can travel on their petals. Today we have been blessed with amazing photos of the blossoms by Totomai Martinez who featured them in his blog last Friday: SakuraThere you will find his recommendations for Cherry blossom contemplation (Hanami) in Japan.  The poems above are in the Japanese poetic forms of haiku and tanka.



bloom
photo by Totomai

Your Challenge:  Build a poem with Cherry blossoms as your central image or recurring motif.  If you use a photograph, be sure to credit the photographer.



sakura
photo by Totomai

BY W. D. SNODGRASS
The green catalpa tree has turned
All white; the cherry blooms once more.   
In one whole year I haven’t learned   
A blessed thing they pay you for.   
The blossoms snow down in my hair;   
The trees and I will soon be bare.
. . . .  
(read the rest HERE at the Poetry Foundation)




On this first day of spring, snow
covers the fruit trees, mingling improbably   
with the new blossoms like identical twins   
brought up in different hemispheres.   
It is not what Housman meant
when he wrote of the cherry
hung with snow, though he also knew   
how death can mistake the seasons,
. . . . 
(Read the rest HERE at the Poetry Foundatiuon)



For those who are new to Poets United: 
  • Post your Cherry Blossom poem on your site, and then link it here.
  • Share only original and new work written for this challenge. 
  • If you use a picture include its link.  
  • Please leave a comment here and visit and comment on our poems.
(Our next Midweek Motif is "enlightenment.")
Oh, yes!  Today is the first day of National Poetry Month in the USA, Canada and a few other countries.  Good luck to all of you who are accepting a challenge to write a poem a day during April.  I am going to try with help from prompts at Poetic AsidesNaPoWriMoMagaly Guerrero  and Imaginary Garden with Real Toads.  We'd love to know if you are attempting the challenge.  Please share links to the sites you are using for prompts and community during the challenge. Thanks!  ~Susan for Poets United
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33 comments:

  1. Thank you for the cherry blossoms Susan and Totomai...not quite to exact instructions (as ever) but thinking of them this past week...they seemed like light and hope...

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    1. Yes, thank you! It's the replacing of snowfall with petals that will give that impression every time.

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  2. Hi Susan and everyone here in PU.

    Perfect timining for the the prompt as sakura is currently in full bloom in Tokyo. It rained though. Still hoping that it won't fall as we plan to have a photo walk this weekend.

    Wrote a poem while on the train earlier. :)

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    Replies
    1. here's a link of one of my favorite Japanese songs - about the cherry blossoms.

      Sakura by Moriyama Naotaro
      https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=p_2F2lKV9uA

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    2. Sad to say that this video is not available in the USA. However, the full-length movie you name in your poem IS! I went to see the trailer on You tube and found the entire film (which I saved to see later). Now I am going back to read the rest of your poem. Thank you for sharing your creativity and enthusiasm!

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    3. Oh! I found it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrY-S1WwE3E
      Yes?

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    4. And here are the lyrics: http://www.globemoon.net/waftf/van/lyrics/naotaro-moriyama__sakura_trans.html

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    5. Yes Susan that's it.

      The film 5 centimeters per second is my favorite animated film :)

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  3. Ah a beautiful prompt Susan..I'm in with haiku :)

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  4. Hello everyone :D

    Wanted to experiment and create something magical with the cherry blossom trees! Hope you all like my poem :D
    xoxo

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    Replies
    1. Yes and the moving photograph too. Thank you.

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    2. Thank you Susan & Sumana :)
      You are both very kind :D
      xoxo

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  5. I love trees and the cherry blossom trees are so special. Good prompt Susan. Thanks.

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    Replies
    1. You are very welcome, Myrna. I think peach trees are pretty special too.

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  6. Spring's snow...
    Thanks so Totomai for sharing your photograph with us.
    This is poetry

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    Replies
    1. I agree totally! Thank you for your poem, Leslie.

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  7. I thought I linked this morning... sigh....I guess I didn't, so I have linked now!

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    1. Whoops! I should have linked you when I saw the poem. A sure beauty.

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  8. Susan,

    Loved writing about the cherry blossom tree, for what it simply is; just marvellous!!!
    A delightful prompt,

    Eileen

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Eileen. I love that your poem captured the blosoming tree in the moment with no thoughts of regret!

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  9. Beautiful images and inspiring challenge...thank you Susan and Totomai.

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    1. You are very welcome, Hannah. Love your posting!

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  10. Good Evening, I just love cherry trees when they are bloom..Thanks for an inspirational prompt.

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  11. Beautiful photos, Totomai! How sweet is the third macro of the petite, pink pretties!?

    Susan, thanks for this wonderful motif - perfect timing!

    Happy April to all!

    Poppy

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  12. Who doesn't love some cherry blossom? <3

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  13. Love the prompt Susan ~ Thanks for the lovely pictures Totomai ~

    I will make my rounds in a bit ~

    Grace

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    Replies
    1. I'm so glad you are here to add another diension to our fun. Love.

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  14. In about an hour I'll be taking a train to Upstate NY to see my folks and stay the weekend. My tablet has decided not to charge, so I will be without my own computer and may be slow getting to your poem. But my prompt is here until Mary's Pantry opens on Sunday, so please post your poem here or there and know I'll be around to see you by and by. Happy Easter or Passover or any holiday you might be celebrating. Travel safe, and write poems!

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    Replies
    1. Have a safe and pleasant trip Susan :)
      Enjoy the weekend!!
      Wishing you a very happy Easter!
      xoxo

      Delete
  15. In about an hour I'll be taking a train to Upstate NY to see my folks and stay the weekend. My tablet has decided not to charge, so I will be without my own computer and may be slow getting to your poem. But my prompt is here until Mary's Pantry opens on Sunday, so please post your poem here or there and know I'll be around to see you by and by. Happy Easter or Passover or any holiday you might be celebrating. Travel safe, and write poems!

    ReplyDelete

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